MMR-vaccine and regression in autism spectrum disorders: negative results presented from Japan
Abstract
It has been suggested that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) is a cause of regressive autism. As MMR was used in Japan only between 1989 and 1993, this time period affords a natural experiment to examine this hypothesis. Data on 904 patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were analyzed. During the period of MMR usage no significant difference was found in the incidence of regression between MMR-vaccinated children and non-vaccinated children. Among the proportion and incidence of regression across the three MMR-program-related periods (before, during and after MMR usage), no significant difference was found between those who had received MMR and those who had not. Moreover, the incidence of regression did not change significantly across the three periods.
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The cohort study of Uchiyama 2007 was potentially affected by bias because participants were from a private clinic and definitions of ASD diagnosis and methods for ASD regression ascertainment were not clearly reported.
“The cohort study of Uchiyama 2007 was potentially affected by a different type of bias, considering that the participants were from a private clinic and that definitions of applied Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) diagnosis and of methods used for ASD regression ascertainment were not clearly reported.”
From Vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella in children (2012) · cites this paper as Uchiyama 2007
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- Authors
- Uchiyama, T., Kurosawa, M., & Inaba, Y.
- Affiliations
- Otsuma Women's University (JP)
- Juntendo University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Uchiyama, Tokio
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2006-07-25
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 210-217
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W1991698391
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Health › Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions
- Keywords
- MMR vaccine, regressive autism, autism spectrum disorder, vaccine safety, natural experiment, Japan, childhood immunization
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Child, Humans, Immunization, Japan, Surveys and Questionnaires, Prevalence, Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
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