Dr. Chris Palmer explores the relationship between metabolic health, mitochondrial function, and conditions like autism, taking a nuanced approach to the topic of vaccines. He explains that high inflammation unequivocally impairs mitochondrial function, and infections themselves can increase neurodevelopmental risks. While vaccines induce inflammation and a hyper-exaggerated response could potentially impact development, especially with pre-existing metabolic or mitochondrial vulnerabilities, he highlights limitations in studies that suggest vaccines cause autism, noting they often fail to control for significant risk factors like parental obesity and diabetes. Dr. Palmer stresses that rates of parental metabolic poor health (obesity, diabetes) are skyrocketing and are strongly correlated with rising rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, viewing this as a critical factor that is often overlooked. He advocates for a comprehensive focus on metabolic health interventions and more rigorous research to understand these complex relationships