Jezebel: Autism

More Parents Decide Their Kids Don't Really Need To Be Vaccinated

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:48:00 EST

Though the idea that vaccines are linked to autism has been disproven by multiple studies, an increasing number of parents are sending their kids off to school without their required vaccines, citing fears over autism and other health problems. Now doctors are concerned that growing resistance to vaccination could lead to a comeback from a variety of retro illnesses they've already beaten. More »

Study Confirms Vaccines Don't Cause Autism, Some Still Disagree

Margaret Hartmann — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:03:00 EDT

The researcher who helped popularize the belief that vaccines cause autism has already been discredited several times over, but just to be sure the government had scientists check again. Once again, they found that parents shouldn't be worried about having kids get their recommended shots, but unsurprisingly, anti-vaccine activists are still insisting that the research is wrong. More »

Swimming With Dolphins Probably Does Not Cure Diseases

Anna North — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:58:00 EDT

Dolphin therapy programs claim that swimming with the sea mammals can cure conditions from chronic fatigue syndrome to autism. However, aside from a few small studies suggesting that dolphin fun may help with depression and, oddly, eczema, there's no evidence for these claims. Also, as much as dolphins may like playing around with other creatures, they "don't feel any spiritual imperative to heal humans, as far as anyone knows." This probably comes as bad news to that tattoo you got sophomore year. More »

Introducing Social X-Ray Glasses

Anna North — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:35:00 EDT

A pair of high-tech glasses could help wearers read other people's emotions. But don't start celebrating the arrival of telepathy just yet. More »

Autism Linked To Moms' Antidepressant Use

Anna North — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EDT

New research suggests that environmental factors may play a much bigger role in autism than previously believed — and one culprit may be antidepressants. More »

Testosterone May Reduce Empathy, Possibly Linked To Autism

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:48:00 EST

After giving 16 women a small dose of testosterone, British and Dutch researchers found they were less able to judge the mood of facial expressions they were shown, according to the BBC. Scientists say this supports the idea that exposure to the hormone during brain development in the womb leads to autism. More »

Study Linking Autism And Vaccines Was A Total Fraud

Anna North — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:45:00 EST

A landmark 1998 study purporting to show a link between vaccines and autism has now been exposed not just as "bad science," but as a fraud. More »

Classroom Intern Reports Child Abuse, Is Discredited Because Of Her Asperger's

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:27:00 EST

A Towson University student has posted a YouTube video saying she saw her mentor teacher hit and kick 3-year-old autistic students. After reporting the abuse she was suspended, and now school officials are suggesting Asperger's syndrome is affecting her teaching. More »

Can A Nose Spray Really Cure Shyness?

Anna North — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EDT

Scientists think oxytocin, the much-vaunted "cuddle hormone," can be used as a nasal spray to reduce shyness. But will a handy spritz really turn all shy caterpillars into social butterflies? More »

Model Behavior

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:25:00 EDT

[New York, June 29. Image via Getty}

Ohio Sorority Trashes Art Center • Testosterone Makes Women Less Trusting

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:20:00 EDT

Remember the girls from Miami University and their vomit-laden "formal"? They're not the only sorority that knows how to party. The Ohio University chapter of Pi Beta Phi has recently been accused of holding a similarly disgusting bash. More »

Science Connects Mental Illness And Creativity

Anna North — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:00:00 EDT

Researchers have found that a key brain system is similar in creative, mentally healthy people and people with schizophrenia, bolstering the notion that the factors that contribute to mental illness may also confer benefits. More »

Time Lies, Says Jenny McCarthy

Anna North — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:30:00 EST

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"Time magazine's article on the autism debate reports that the experts are certain 'vaccines don't cause autism; they don't injure children; they are the pillar of modern public health.' I say, 'that's a lie and we're sick of it.'" [HuffPo] More »

"Wisdom Isn’t Cheap, And We Pay For It With Pain:" Can Depression Help Us Solve Problems?

Anna North — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

The idea that depression is useful isn't new, but this Sunday's Times Magazine advances a fascinating and controversial hypothesis: that it might actually help us analyze our lives. More »

The Jenny McCarthy Conundrum: Is False Hope Better Than No Hope?

Anna North — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST

In a long interview with Time, Jenny McCarthy says of parents of autistic kids, "Hope is the only thing that will get us up in the morning." But is the kind of hope she's offering actually dangerous? More »

To Jenny McCarthy, Science Is "Censorship"

Anna North — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:40:00 EST

Jenny McCarthy is crying "censorship" over Lancet's retraction of a discredited study linking autism to vaccines. Says one blogger, "Jenny, honey, the science has left the building. Why are you still here?" [Strollerderby] More »

Temple Grandin: "Nature Is Cruel, But We Don't Have To Be"

Anna North — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST

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Temple Grandin, which aired this weekend on HBO, explored not only its subject's navigation through a neurotypical-dominated world, but also her somewhat surprising decision to help slaughterhouses better kill cattle. More »

"A Bunch Of Social 'Yak Yaks'": Temple Grandin And Autism

Anna North — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:20:00 EST

An MSNBC interview with Temple Grandin, the animal behaviorist whose experience with autism is the subject of an upcoming biopic, shed light not only on the disorder but on social — and antisocial — life as we know it. More »

Calling Bullshit On The "G-Spot Myth" • Strip Club Rivalry Ends In Court

Katy Kelleher — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

• Yvonne Roberts questions the recent study on the existence of the G-spot in an amazing article for the Guardian. "What constitutes a 'fact' in the scientific analysis of female sexual arousal is far from clear," she writes. More »

Report Nixes Special Diets For Autism

Anna North — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST

Contradicting the beliefs of Jenny McCarthy and other parents, a report released today says there's no evidence that autistic kids have more digestive problems than others, or that special diets can help the condition. More »

Study: Women Better At Spotting Fear

Anna North — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:45:00 EDT

According to a new study, women are faster and better than men at distinguishing between fear and disgust, especially in other women. This may have implications for the treatment of diseases with "a gender component," like autism. [EurekAlert] More »

Studies Show Autism More Common Than Previously Thought

Anna North — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EDT

Two studies show more American kids have autism spectrum disorders than previously thought, about one in a hundred. But critics caution that the study methodology may be flawed. More »

Is Oprah Selling Snake Oil?

Anna North — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:20:00 EDT

Oprah responded yesterday to Newsweek's recent claim that her health advice is irresponsible, but the criticisms of her embrace of homeopathy and other non-scientifically proven cures keep coming. More »

"Modern Love" May Lead To Rash Of Armchair Diagnoses

Sadie Stein — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 EDT

In a year when three of my friends have declared that their boyfriends have Asperger's Syndrome, I'm worried this heartfelt account may fan the flames. (Please don't let "Aspergers" be the new "Bipolar.") More »

Vaccine Shot Rubs Funnyman The Wrong Way

Anna Holmes — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:50:00 EDT

[Cannes, May 18. Image via Bauer-Griffin]

Roxana Saberi Briefly Hospitalized • Big Newborn Almost Kills British Mom

Katy Kelleher — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:20:00 EDT

• Roxana Saberi, the American journalist being held on charges of espionage in Iran, was hospitalized. Her ill health is the result of a hunger fast, which she intensified by refusing to drink water. • More »

A Wedding Gown For The Birds • New Moms Using HIV Drug To Stop Lactating

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:40:00 EDT

• If you're getting married and have a spare $1.5 million, why not walk down this aisle in this wedding dress made with peacock tail feathers? • More »

Asperger's Underdiagnosed In Girls, Says Expert

Anna North — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:40:00 EDT

According to autism expert Dr. Judith Gould, Asperger's syndrome may be massively underdiagnosed in girls, perhaps because they hide their symptoms better. More »

Anne Frank's Helper Turns 100 • Swiss Skinheads Cause Brazilian Mother To Miscarry

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST

• Anne Frank's last surviving "helper," Miep Gies, turns 100 this Sunday. She humbly claims that she has received far more attention than she deserves, and "so many others have done the same." • More »

Doctor Lied About Vaccine Dangers

Anna North — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:40:00 EST

The vaccine-autism link just got even weaker, with news that the doctor who sparked fears about the MMR vaccine actually falsified his results. [TimesOnline] More »

Woman Arrested For Molestation Of Adult Male • Serena Williams Is Wealthiest Female Athlete

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:40:00 EST

• A Colorado woman has been arrested for assaulting a male friend. After the man woke up with her hands "in [his] ass," she said, "what did I do... kill somebody?" • More »

Autism May Someday Be Detected In The Womb

Margaret Hartmann — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST

Doctors have discovered that high levels of testosterone in the womb may increase the risk of autism, raising the possibility of a prenatal test for the condition. But is testing for autism ethical? More »

Study Finds Less Curvy Career Women • Cosmetics Industry Faces Reform

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:40:00 EST

• An increase in testosterone has been blamed for the decline of the hourglass figure among working women. • New study finds that playing Tetris may help ease post-traumatic stress. • More »

Who Needs Science Or Feminism When There's Jenny McCarthy?

Megan Carpentier — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon puts her finger on host of problems that come along with not getting your child vaccinated because former Playmate and Singled Out host Jenny McCarthy says it causes autism. More »

Advances In Prenatal Testing Create New Twist In Abortion Debate

Jessica G. — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EDT

With Trig Palin being perhaps the best known special-needs child in American history, there have been several articles about increased genetic testing for prenatal abnormalities in recent days. As the story goes, Sarah Palin knew before he was born that Trig had a genetic condition, but because of her strongly held anti-abortion beliefs, did not consider abortion as an option. The Wall Street Journal profiles Jennifer Carden, a Michigan mother who made a similar choice, and had her son Parker in 2007. More »

Measles Vaccine Does Not Cause Autism, Researchers Report

Jessica G. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:30:00 EDT

When it comes to vaccinating children, pro-vaccine Amanda Peet has science on her side. Despite fellow star Jenny McCarthy's very public claims that vaccines contributed to her son's autism, a new study from Columbia University reports that there is no link between the measles vaccine and the disorder. Lead author on the study, epidemiologist W. Ian Lipkin, says, "We are confident that there is no link between [the measles vaccine] and autism." According to the WaPo, a previous 1998 study of only 12 children with autism, "suggested the onset of their behavioral abnormalities was linked to receiving the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine," but this has been thoroughly debunked by the new research. More »

Obama Ist Ein Berliner, But Andy Giuliani Is Litigious

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Barack Obama's already left Berlin, but the pictures remain. The last time I personally saw the Victory Column, I was 20 and in the midst of Berlin's enormous gay pride parade. Watching young men puke in the bushes while people passed by in front of a stone column was way less impressive than seeing a 20-foot-longpaper maché penis float through the Brandenburg Gate — which makes a better backdrop for everything, really. But the Bush Administration didn't want that backdrop for Obama any more than they probably want to see large penises around Washington, so the Victory Column had to do. Does it really matter what he said? Moe and I say not really, not when we can discuss Rudy Giuliani's Lawsuit-Happy Gilmore, Matthew Yglesias's haters, Michael Savage's stupidity, power, privilege and Duke, SATs, ADHD, Dawson's Creek and James Van Der Beek. (No, I haven't had a bunch of coffee on an empty stomach, why do you ask?) Go read, it's after the jump. More »

Just Don't Go There

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:30:43 EDT

In an interview on Glamocracy (also known as "the other place I blog") with Glamour's Cindi Leive, Barack Obama said that he's infuriated by right-wing attacks on his wife. Maybe he and Bill will actually have something to talk about next time they talk. [Glamocracy]
The Nation has a new sex columnist, JoAnn Wypikewski. JoAnn thinks that there are "legions of little girls jumping out of their panties" for Obama, which manages to be stupid, demeaning, creepy and sexist all at the same time! "Ugh" is right. [The Nation, Salon]
Oh, and conservative talk show host Michael Savage thinks that autistic children are just "[brats] who [haven't] been told to cut the act." Why the fuck do people listen to this asshole again? [Media Matters]

Olympic hopeful Melanie Roach is a bad ass...

Jessica G. — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:30:00 EDT

Olympic hopeful Melanie Roach is a bad ass mama jama. The mom of three kids (one of whom is severely autistic) can lift 238 pounds over her head, says the New York Times. She's only 5'1'' and weighs 117 pounds, and she was all set to try out for the 2000 Olympics when a herniated disc in her back ruined her chances. Melanie's husband, Washington state legislator Dan, has been instrumental in her recuperation. According to the Times, "From 1 a.m. to 4 a.m., Dan takes care of Drew (th couple's autistic son), when he often throws what the family calls parties, jumping on the bed, opening and shutting the bedroom door 20 times, breaking into fits of giggles." [NYT] More »

"Next Top Model" Jaslene Gonzalez Smiles With Her Eyes, Books Job

Jennifer — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

ANTM cycle 8 winner Jaslene Gonzalez: Now the face of Lot29. What? A Top Model winner actually booked a job after wrapping the show? [WWD, sub req'd]