Post-mortem studies of children with autism show they have significantly higher levels of aluminum in their brains compared to children without autism (typically 3-times the amount). In this current study, researchers injected mice with aluminum at levels that would equal that given to a child in a typical vaccination. Even at these typical aluminum levels, mice showed significant weight gain and various signs of neurological damage, including increased anxiety, reduction in exploratory behavior, and locomotor activities. The effects were stated to be long-lasting and persisted for 6 months after injection. This direct cause-and-effect observation shows that typical aluminum exposure (equal to that coming from vaccines) was able to damage neurological function in mice. This raises legitimate questions as to whether similar neurotoxic effects could be occurring in vulnerable children as well.
ABSTRACT
Our previous ecological studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has demonstrated a correlation between increasing ASD rates and aluminium (Al) adjuvants in common use in paediatric vaccines in several Western countries. The correlation between ASD rate and Al adjuvant amounts appears to be dose-dependent and satisfies 8 of 9 Hill criteria for causality. We have now sought to provide an animal model to explore potential behavioural phenotypes and central nervous system (CNS) alterations using s.c. injections of Al hydroxide in early postnatal CD-1 mice of both sexes. Injections of a “high” and “low” Al adjuvant levels were designed to correlate to either the U.S. or Scandinavian paediatric vaccine schedules vs. control saline-injected mice. Both male and female mice in the “high Al” group showed significant weight gains following treatment up to sacrifice at 6 months of age. Male mice in the “high Al” group showed significant changes in light–dark box tests and in various measures of behaviour in an open field. Female mice showed significant changes in the light–dark box at both doses, but no significant changes in open field behaviours. These current data implicate Al injected in early postnatal life in some CNS alterations that may be relevant for a better understanding of the aetiology of ASD.
Graphical abstract
Repetitive administration of aluminium to neonatal mice in amounts comparable to those to children receive via routine vaccinations significantly increases anxiety and reduces exploratory behaviour and locomotor activities. The neurodisruptive effects of aluminium are long-lasting and persist for 6 months following injection.