11/22/2025
More open discussion, research and transparency please…
The CDC just quietly said something huge: while big studies with millions of kids found no overall link between vaccines and autism (for example, a 2014 review of 1.2 million children, PMID: 24814559), they now admit those studies never looked closely enough at certain vulnerable kids. Things like rare mitochondrial problems or getting many vaccines very early in life were never fully ruled out as possible triggers for brain inflammation that could worsen autism symptoms or bring on seizures, severe gut issues, and autoimmune diseases. For families who watched their happy baby change after a round of shots, this feels like the first time a major agency has said, “We hear you, and we don’t have all the answers yet.” It doesn’t mean all vaccines cause autism, but it does mean science is finally opening the door to study the hardest cases instead of just repeating “settled science” and medically gaslighting parents.
It’s really important to understand the difference between two very different experiences on the autism spectrum. Many autistic teens and adults proudly call themselves neurodivergent—they may think differently, feel things intensely, and have amazing gifts. They want acceptance, not a cure. But many autistic kids have “profound autism” and co-occurring conditions: they may never speak, need 24/7 care, bang their heads, have hundreds of seizures, terrible stomach pain, or immune systems that attack their own bodies (studies show much higher rates of epilepsy PMID: 29027581, severe gut problems PMID: 29275936, and autoimmune illnesses PMID: 31649200). For these families, autism isn’t just “different wiring”—it’s a devastating medical condition on top of autism. The CDC’s new statement gives hope that researchers will finally look at these co-occurring health problems instead of lumping everyone together. Every autistic person deserves respect, kindness and support.
I love my telehealth patients on the spectrum very much. Optimizing their health so their unique neurodiversity can shine. Calming inflammation, regulating their nervous system and healing their gut