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LETTER TO EDITORS
Autism Spectrum Diseases: Genetics or Environment? Facts and Legends. Short look at the problem
 
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Kinderumwelt gemeinnützige GmbH der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin (DAKJ) e.V., Osnabrück, Germany
 
 
Corresponding author
Karl Ernst v. Mühlendahl   

Kinderumwelt gemeinnützige GmbH der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder – und Jugendmedizin (DAKJ) e.V., Westerbreite 7, D 49084 Osnabrück, Germany
 
 
Med Srod. 2016;19(1):7-8
 
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ABSTRACT
Measles-mumps vaccinations might be responsible for the development of autism spectrum diseases (ASD), including high functioning autism, such as Asperger’s syndrome; that is what Wakefield et al. suggested in a paper in The Lancet twenty years ago [1]. Later, the Lancet Editors retracted this publication [2], due to the fact that Wakefield had „produced“ fake, falsified results, and that he was implicated in interests regarding material compensation from pharmaceutical companies producing vaccines to families with ASD. The Wakefield publication had the effect that consequently vaccination rates declined dramatically, and fuelled discussions about other environmental factors (bacteria, mercury, pesticides, etc.).
 
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Hamilton A.: Reflecting on the mirror neuron system in autism: A systematic review of current theories. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2013; 3: 91-105.
 
eISSN:2084-6312
ISSN:1505-7054
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