Condition that affects a child’s ability to communicate and interact socially 1.5 million children in the United States are diagnosed with Autism Cases of autism has risen by10-17% in the last number of years
In 1998, Dr. Andrew Wakefield proposed that vaccines could contribute to the cause, especially the MMR vaccine Case was dismissed in 2011 Others thought that the thimerosal in vaccines caused mental disorders
Thimirosal has been taken out of many vaccines but autism rates have stayed the same Scientists believe that mutations in genes more likely cause autism Environmental factors such as exposure to mercury, lead or polychlorinated biphenyls may cause autism