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Have parents behaved irrationally towards MMR?
September 24, 2003Parents seem to neglect a real risk to their children (injuries from road crashes) but amplify an insignificant risk (autism caused by MMR vaccine), argues a senior researcher in this week's BMJ. But does this suggest that parents are irrational?
Paul Bellaby of Salford University considers the public perception of three risks to children: an insignificant risk (autism from vaccination), a real but probably small risk (vCJD from BSE), and a real and demonstrably larger risk (injuries from road crashes).
Although injuries from road crashes carry by far the largest risk of the three, they have raised little controversy, says the author. In contrast, the alleged link between MMR vaccination and autism, and the small risk of vCJD both met with widespread concern from parents.
He suggests that parents seem to neglect the easily perceptible risk, to reject the expert assessment, and to amplify the virtual risk.
However, in spite of appearances to the contrary, one can argue that parents have behaved rationally, says the author. They act in what they perceive to be the interests of their children. Thus they avoid beef products and question the safety of MMR. Even though taking children to school and elsewhere by car is a risk, it is seen as a way of protecting them from greater dangers on the streets, such as abduction by strangers.
Communicating risk effectively is about much more than providing even the best of information: it is a matter of two-way communication and obtaining agreement, he concludes.
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Autism Current Events and Autism News RSSNew molecular insight into vertebrate brain development
In the December 1st issue of G&D, Dr. Fred H. Gage (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies) and colleagues reveal a role for the Hippo signaling pathway in the regulation of vertebrate neural development, identifying new factors - and potential therapeutic targets - that may be involved in congenital brain size disorders and neurological tumor formation.
AMA journal publishes by Cornell Researchers study showing evidence of a major environmental trigger for autism
The American Medical Association journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine has published a new study by researchers at Cornell University indicating evidence of an environmental trigger for autism among genetically vulnerable children.
Unusual use of toys in infancy a clue to later autism
Researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute have found that infants later diagnosed with autism exhibited unusual exploration of objects long before being diagnosed.
Genetic study provides new insights into molecular basis of language development
Scientists have identified the first gene that is associated with a common childhood language disorder, known as specific language impairment (SLI).
Methylmercury warning
Recent studies hint that exposure to the toxic chemicals, such as methylmercury can cause harm at levels previously considered safe.
Supercomputer provides massive computational boost to biomedical research at TGen
In less time than the blink of an eye, the Translational Genomics Research Institute's new supercomputer at Arizona State University can do operations equal to every dollar in the recent Wall Street bailout.
Study will examine how children with Down syndrome learn
Researchers at the University of Denver (DU) Morgridge College of Education are conducting a groundbreaking study that will compare two early literacy intervention approaches to educating young children with Down syndrome.
MU brain imaging center provides research for autism, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease
Recently, the University of Missouri Department of Psychological Sciences introduced an addition to their field of research with the opening of the Brain Imaging Center (BIC).
People with autism make more rational decisions, study shows
People with autism-related disorders are less likely to make irrational decisions, and are less influenced by gut instincts, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust. The study adds to the growing body of research implicating altered emotional processing in autism.
M.I.N.D. Institute researchers find important clue to learning deficit in children with autism
A study by researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute has discovered an important clue to why children with autism spectrum disorders have trouble imitating others: They spend less time looking at the faces of people who are modeling new skills.
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