Are GMOs responsible for some of the autism spectrum disorders that are climbing rapidly in children being born since GMO use got popular?

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Monday, 31/08/2015 18:25

Dr. Bruce Chassy, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign responded to a similar question here, and we invite you to read that response for more information. A few points that he highlights in this answer include:

 

• Not a shred of evidence exists that any GI system in any animal or human has been adversely affected by GM crops.  

• The insect-specific toxins that are used in GM plants do not bio-accumulate, they are digested in our guts like any other protein and are not toxic to humans or animals.

• Correlation between two measured variables does not imply one causes the other.  One could claim for example that the rise of autism correlated with the rise in consumption of organic foods or use of cellphones but that would not suggest a causal relationship.

• Autism is primarily a genetic disorder and it is a matter of much debate among experts if environmental factors even play a role, and if so, how much of a role they play is unclear.

• Sadly, autism is not curable and it is rarely completely overcome. Improvement is, however, possible in a few percent of cases.  Some experts believe that autism is often mis-diagnosed and is probably over-diagnosed which may account for some of the claimed cures.

• It is also believed by many experts that the rate of autism  has probably not changed much over the years and that the apparent increase in frequency is due largely to a greater percentage of children with autism being diagnosed

 

If you have any additional questions, please ask.

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Monday, 31/08/2015 18:25

Dr. Bruce Chassy, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign responded to a similar question here, and we invite you to read that response for more information. A few points that he highlights in this answer include:

 

• Not a shred of evidence exists that any GI system in any animal or human has been adversely affected by GM crops.  

• The insect-specific toxins that are used in GM plants do not bio-accumulate, they are digested in our guts like any other protein and are not toxic to humans or animals.

• Correlation between two measured variables does not imply one causes the other.  One could claim for example that the rise of autism correlated with the rise in consumption of organic foods or use of cellphones but that would not suggest a causal relationship.

• Autism is primarily a genetic disorder and it is a matter of much debate among experts if environmental factors even play a role, and if so, how much of a role they play is unclear.

• Sadly, autism is not curable and it is rarely completely overcome. Improvement is, however, possible in a few percent of cases.  Some experts believe that autism is often mis-diagnosed and is probably over-diagnosed which may account for some of the claimed cures.

• It is also believed by many experts that the rate of autism  has probably not changed much over the years and that the apparent increase in frequency is due largely to a greater percentage of children with autism being diagnosed

 

If you have any additional questions, please ask.