Study: Children Of Pink Disease Survivors At Risk For Autism

A family history of pink disease is a significant risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), says a new study.

AsianScientist (Aug. 10, 2011) – A family history of pink disease is a significant risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), new research from Swinburne University of Technology has found.

The results of the study, conducted by Associate Professor David Austin and Ms. Kerrie Shandley from the Swinburne Autism Bio-Research Initiative (SABRI), have been published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.

Pink disease is a form of mercury poisoning prevalent in the first half of the 20th century. It affected one in 500 young children with a hyper-sensitivity to mercury, and caused a range of severe symptoms including loss of speech, loss of interest in usual activities, hypersensitivity to light, pain and, in up to 20 percent of cases, death. The disease was essentially wiped out when mercury was identified as the culprit and removed as an ingredient in teething powders in the 1950s.

For the current study, the Swinburne researchers surveyed over 500 Australian survivors of Pink disease regarding the health of their descendents. The team collected detailed data about the survivors, as well as their 1100 children and 1360 grandchildren.

“We asked the Pink disease survivors to report any health conditions that their children or grandchildren had been diagnosed with,” Prof. Austin said.

“The survey included questions about Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, and autism.”

They found that the prevalence rate of most disorders was comparable to general population figures, however, the rate for autism was extremely high.

“Staggeringly, we found that one in 25 grandchildren of pink disease survivors aged 6 and 12 had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. This compares to the current Australian prevalence rate for that age group of one in 160,” he said.

Given that these children are known to have a family history of mercury sensitivity, the finding could have significant implications for the emotionally-charged autism debate.

Researchers have been searching for the cause of autism ever since it was recognized as a disorder. Prof. Austin said autism researchers could be divided into two warring camps; one that attributes autism to genetics and the other which attributes it to an environmental trigger.

“This study suggests that it may actually be a combination of the two. That is, genetic susceptibility to a trigger (mercury) and then exposure to that trigger.”

“In this sense, it is like a peanut allergy. For most of us peanuts are completely harmless but, for those who are allergic, there can be serious consequences if there is exposure,” he said.

Researchers at SABRI are now extending their research by examining cellular and genetic characteristics of Pink Disease survivors and people with autism. The results are expected to be released in 2012.

In the meantime, he suggests those with a suspected family history of pink disease to minimize their exposure to mercury. This is particularly important for young children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

“This can be done by observing the recommendations of Food Standards Australia regarding seafood consumption, opting for non-amalgam dental fillings and requesting preservative-free vaccines from your doctor,” he said.

The article can be found at: Shandley K et al. (2011) Ancestry of pink disease (infantile acrodynia) identified as a risk factor for autism spectrum disorders.

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Source: Swinburne University of Technology.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Rebecca Lim is a Singaporean-born medical doctor practising in Melbourne, Austraia. She earned her MBBS degree from Monash University, Australia.

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