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Why Autism Affects Boys More Than Girls

  • February 10, 2017

The facts are in: The rates of autism are two to five times higher among boys than girls. As reported by Time, until recently brain experts hadn’t really focused on the gender differences, but a new study points to the possibility that girls’ naturally thicker brain cortexes may offer a more protective defense against autism.

The CDC says 1 in 50 children now have autism; parents of autistic children claim it’s even worse. But whatever the number, it’s long been known that this horrible brain dysfunction afflicts more boys than girls. Gene mutations are often blamed for this, but a study of identical twins showed that fraternal twins are actually more likely to share an autism diagnosis, which discounts the gene theory.

Environmental causes are also blamed for autism, including vitamin D deficiency, electromagnetic fields, mercury toxicity, exposure to phthalates and vaccines. The vaccine connection is one you hear often, and is the topic of whistleblower testimony from Dr. William Thompson, a CDC research scientist who admits destroying critical evidence tying vaccines to autism in boys, specifically black boys.

According to Thompson, one of the studies in question found that African-American boys who received the MMR vaccine before the age of 36 months had an increased risk for autism. He also maintains that CDC studies have found a relationship between thimerosal and tics, which are associated with autism.

If you want to know more about the underhanded dealings allegedly going on at the CDC, read the book "Vaccine Whistleblower," or get a copy of the film “Vaxxed,” which tells Thompson’s story and shows that the “science” on this is far from settled.