Autism test and treatment potentially on horizon as scientists find hormone deficiency link

[Mary Anne]

I am interested in learning about my brain and autistic brains in general, but this correlation (which is all it is, at this point) may not even exist in the vast majority of autistic people.

And nobody has proven that low vasopressin actually causes social inhibition or social difficulty. It could be entirely the other way around, with social inhibition/difficulty causing low vasopressin.....In which case, increasing the level of it in a person's brain would do absolutely nothing to change the social inhibition/difficulties, and you could not use vasopressin levels as a test for autism since anybody who was socially inhibited or had social difficulty for any reason would have low vasopressin levels.

Correlation is not causation. Why does everyone forget this?

Also, just because a person questions the methodology used or the conclusions being drawn from a study doesn't mean they think that the existance or aims of that study are bad.

And just because a person is against "curing" autism (or even simply thinks the idea is foolish and impossible) doesn't mean they are against therapies to help ameliorate our difficulties.

Which is why there is research and ethical monitoring of same. Which is why we should do reasearch and learn where the outcomes lead. I could say that about anything....well done research is the way we find out about everything, in a controlled, rules based, documented fashion.

 

[Mary Anne]

It’s a super small test group, consisting only of boys. Scientifically, this study is rubbish.

All research starts as one “small test.” As a doctor, you should know this. From there more research is done. New theories, and outcomes are carefully documented. As I said, anything meaningful might be several decades awayes cannot be predicted. Calling it “rubbish” is uncharacteristic for objective scientific minds.

 

[Judge]

Well, it's only initial research. At least it's work involved at a reputable institution of higher education, UC Davis. It might be interesting to see what developes with one consideration. Perhaps being an objective ability to positively diagnose autism based on insufficient levels of arginine vasopressin in one's spinal fluid. Though it seems like it may be a "scientific longshot". We shall see.

However to most anyone like myself who has had to endure a spinal tap as a child, it was an excruciatingly painful experience. I was being screened to see if I had meningitis at the time. Instead it turned out to be a particularly virulent virus. Potential diagnostics that may come at a price like this may be frowned upon.

As far as research to find a "cure" to autism, well....any number of us have elaborated on that dynamic in other posts. Like so many others, I personally have no interest in being "fixed" no matter what the methodology. Opting instead for tolerance first, and understanding second. Avoiding any alleged scientific breakthroughs involving changing our species in the name of societal conformity.

 

[Mary Anne]

Another thing I find objectionable in all these threads is when the words “treatments”, or “help” are used, aspies all quickly jump to that much hated word “cure.”

I keep wanting to bang my head against the nearest wall! Why does everyone always think the word alleviate, treatment, or help equals the word “cure?” It does not.

I think aspies are “cure” obsessed (why else does this word continually pop up when the topic does not convey any “cure?”). No one is talking about “curing” - look up the meaning of that word. Certainly there are plenty of Autistics with severe troubles that WANT some sort of help. Maybe YOU do not want or need any help. But YOU are not everyone else. Austism is an enormous ranging far and wide from extreme low functioning to extremely high functioning. There are multitudes of half aspie half NT people who navigate society and life without treatment. But let’s not negate other autistics who may welcome some sort of therapeutic treatments. To negate any POTENTIAL therapy, or treatments for other autistics is to harm your fellow autistics. Please please keep an open mind!

 

[Progster]

This is where my confusion comes in. Part of the diagnosis is to not have social skills. Do you mean they trained themselves to be this way? I am half NT and even I have huge social problems and sensory disorders.
This is why there is much to understand by scientists and having better diagnosis.

Sorry, I seem to have confused you. Here is what I mean to say:

People with autism have communication difficulties and lack social skills. That is part of the diagnostic criteria. Apart from this, each person has his or her personality: introverted, extroverted or somewhere inbetween. As a result of the anxiety incurred due to a lack of social skills/communication difficulties and past unpleasant experiences, or because of their personality, most autistic people are introverted. However, some are extroverted.

Those who are introverted might: not have confidence, not talk much, talk too quietly, withdraw into themselves, have social anxiety, not assert themselves, lack of expressive body language, etc. These people are likely to avoid social contact. For these people, it might not be so obvious that ASD is behind these issues and they might be diagnosed with social anxiety.

Those who are extroverted might: talk too much, too loudly, speak out of turn, dominate conversations, offend people without being aware of it, be too direct, etc. They might have the deficits and not realise it. These people are more likely to be noticed and diagnosed (edit) and seek out social contact.

Most autistic people learn to navigate the social world and develop social skills as they get older, and can cope with social situations to varying degrees, some very well indeed, but they are still autistic.

 

[Mary Anne]

Sorry, I seem to have confused you. Here is what I mean to say:

People with autism have communication difficulties and lack social skills. That is part of the diagnostic criteria. Apart from this, each person has his or her personality: introverted, extroverted or somewhere in between. As a result of the anxiety incurred due to a lack of social skills/communication difficulties and past unpleasant experiences, or because of their personality, most autistic people are introverted. However, some are extroverted.

Those who are introverted might: not have confidence, not talk much, talk too quietly, withdraw into themselves, have social anxiety, not assert themselves, lack of expressive body language, etc. These people are likely to avoid social contact. For these people, it might not be so obvious that ASD is behind these issues and they might be diagnosed with social anxiety.

Those who are extroverted might: talk too much, too loudly, speak out of turn, dominate conversations, offend people without being aware of it, be too direct, etc. They might have the deficits and not realise it. These people are more likely to be noticed and diagnosed (edit) and seek out social contact.

Most autistic people learn to navigate the social world and develop social skills as they get older, and can cope with social situations to varying degrees, some very well indeed, but they are still autistic.

Thanks, this is very meaningful. Do you have any links I could read further about these diversities?

 

[Progster]

Thanks, this is very meaningful. Do you have any links I could read further about these diversities?

My post was a personal opinion, a result of my own experiences and reading over a number of years, not the result of a specific article I can link to, but you can read further here:
http://eng.hejlskov.se/autism/on-autism-and-extroversion/
Recent Study Inconclusive on Whether People with Autism are Introverts or Extroverts
http://teenautism.com/2008/04/29/extroverted-autism/
Extroversion in autism

 

[Mary Anne]

My post was a personal opinion, a result of my own experiences and reading over a number of years, not the result of a specific article I can link to, but you can read further here:
On autism and extroversion – Bo Hejlskov Elvén
Recent Study Inconclusive on Whether People with Autism are Introverts or Extroverts
Extroverted Autism | Teen Autism
Extroversion in autism

Thanks!!!! Had no idea! Makes sense!