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>Scientific evidence .... > >According to new research >from Northeastern University pharmacy professor >Richard Deth and colleagues from the University of >Nebraska, Tufts, and Johns Hopkins University, there >is an apparent link between exposure to certain >neurodevelopmental toxins and an increased possibility >of developing neurological disorders including autism >and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The >research - the first to offer an explanation for >possible causes of two increasingly common childhood >neurological disorders - is published today in the >April 2004 issue of the journal Molecular Psychiatry. > >Though some speculation exists regarding this link, >Deth and his colleagues found that exposure to toxins, >such as ethanol and heavy metals (including lead, >aluminum and the ethylmercury-containing preservative >thimerosal) potently interrupt growth factor >signaling, causing adverse effects on methylation >reactions (i.e. the transfer of carbon atoms). >Methylation, in turn, plays a significant role in >regulating normal DNA function and gene expression, >and is critical to proper neurological development in >infants and children. Scientists and practitioners >have identified an increase in diagnoses of autism and >ADHD in particular, though the reasons why are largely >unknown. > >In their work, the scientists found that insulin-like >growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and the neurotransmitter >dopamine both stimulated folate-dependent methylation >pathways in neuronal cells. At the same time they >noted that compounds like thimerosal, ethanol and >metals (like lead and mercury) effectively inhibited >these same biochemical pathways at concentrations that >are typically found following vaccination or other >sources of exposure. By better understanding what >happens when infants and children are exposed to these >materials, the work of Deth and his colleagues helps >to explain how environmental contact with metals and >administration of certain vaccines may lead to serious >disorders that manifest themselves during childhood, >including autism and ADHD. > >"Scientists certainly acknowledge that exposure to >neurotoxins like ethanol and heavy metals can cause >developmental disorders, but until now, the precise >mechanisms underlying their toxicity have not been >known," said Deth. "The recent increase in the >incidence of autism led us to speculate that >environmental exposures, including vaccine additives >might contribute to the triggering of this disorder." > >Thimerosal, which was largely phased out in the U.S. >and in Europe starting in 2000,was often used for its >preservative abilities in multi-dose units of vaccines >for diseases like hepatitis, whooping cough, tetanus >and diptheria. Today, most vaccines carry only trace >amounts of it, according to the CDC. But in larger, >multi-dose vials of these vaccines, often shipped to >and used in third world countries, thimerosal is still >very common. Multi-dose flu vaccines still contain >thimerosal. > >Additionally, the scientists recently obtained more >insight into the mechanism by which thimerosal >interferes with folate-dependent methylation. It acts >by inhibiting the biosynthesis of the active form of >vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), which is of particular >interest because doctors treating autistic kids are >having good success with the administration of >methycobalamin. > >Northeastern University, a private research >institution located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a >world leader in practice-oriented education. Building >on its flagship cooperative education program, >Northeastern links classroom learning with workplace >experience and integrates professional preparation >with study in the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News >& World Report, in its annual guide America's Best >Colleges, 2003, ranked Northeastern University number >one in the country among programs that "require or >encourage students to apply what they're learning in >the classroom out in the real world." In addition, >Northeastern's career services was top ranked by >Kaplan Newsweek's "Unofficial Insiders Guide to the >320 Most Interesting Colleges and Universities," 2003 >edition. For more information, please visit >http://www.northeastern.edu. > >Paper in full at this link: > >http://www.nupr.neu.edu/2-04/deth_article.pdf
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