Medical Research Council review sets research agenda for autism

The Medical Research Council has published a major review of research which reveals that the prevalence of autism is higher than had been thought but indicates no association with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination.

The review was commissioned by the Department of Health in March 2001, partly in response to public concerns raised by research alleging that MMR vaccination might be linked to an apparent increase in the numbers of children with autism. It was designed to be a wide ranging review of research into different aspects of autism and other disorders in the autism spectrum, to identify gaps in knowledge and to make recommendations on future research in the United Kingdom.

Three groups of scientists examined the research evidence …