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The Cure

No, too old to go changing that drastically now. Might have been a different story when I was a kid, and I can see why the younger folk might want it.

The world needs aspies.
 
I'm fine the way I am, thanks.

When I read articles like this, on projects that are about cure, I always have to remind myself that they're really not about people like me and the rest of us here. For profound autistics, this could be a truly great thing. For us, it's just not necessary.
 
No, I wouldn't accept the cure, if it were available and worked but, it does raise some interesting questions.

I've seen many of us overcome the effects of ASD almost completely, myself being one of those. Is it possible that by learning, enduring the stress and melt downs, consciously overriding those effect we are able to disable some of those excess inhibitory neurons? Are we capable of removing or, tuning the power off to our mental traffic lights?

If so, could that ability be taught to everyone who is on the spectrum? Do we possess the ability to cure or improve our functioning within ourselves and just haven't realized that yet?

We know that as we learn, we develop new neuro pathways and, make new connections. Once we know something well, it's second nature for our minds to rout input the correct way, for us to think that way so, can we also destroy faulty pathways when we learn?

The human brain is a powerful tool that can affect every part of the body with only a thought so, it seems reasonable to me that it can also affect itself physically with only a thought. How much could we cure or resolve with thought alone if we could unlock the full potential of our brains?
 
I've seen many of us overcome the effects of ASD almost completely, myself being one of those. Is it possible that by learning, enduring the stress and melt downs, consciously overriding those effect we are able to disable some of those excess inhibitory neurons? Are we capable of removing or, tuning the power off to our mental traffic lights?

If so, could that ability be taught to everyone who is on the spectrum? Do we possess the ability to cure or improve our functioning within ourselves and just haven't realized that yet?

I personally believe the answer to those questions is 'yes'.

There would be some problems, after all it is a spectrum, but I do believe that an aspie can be taught how to use their true innate skills in a way that serves them.
 
Well I wouldn't want to be the one they experiment on, thats for sure.

Unless if instead of NT you became a superhuman organoid with super powers, like being able to remove staples without hurting your fingers and being able to turn annoying people into ketchup packets. ;)

But seriously, these types of things frighten me. What will come, some toxic bacteria or something, unintended, crawling out of some lab someday. And it is getting annoying how many researchers are using the word 'cure' as if they actually had something well developed and tested. They grow some mush in a lab and suppress something in rats and claim 'were on the path to a possible cure!' Which is BS. They have no idea what else it might do or if it is even practical for humans. What they really are doing is trying to get the research money to insure their paychecks keep coming.

Not to mention many of us are not sick in the first place and don't want them messing with our minds. They are welcome to turn their own brains into an organoid. Leave mine alone.
 
I am probably far too old, (71), but if I were asked to participate in this study I would jump at the chance. Even if my few remaining years were horrible I would be contributing to future AS people. I LOVE science and medicine and welcome the thought that a cure is possible, if it could occur before the subject developed any lasting memories. I have completely changed my position on accepting a cure because I believe this is a major scientific break through. I am also grateful, for whatever their reasons, that my kids have chosen not to be parents.
 
No, I wouldn't accept the cure, if it were available and worked but, it does raise some interesting questions.

I've seen many of us overcome the effects of ASD almost completely, myself being one of those. Is it possible that by learning, enduring the stress and melt downs, consciously overriding those effect we are able to disable some of those excess inhibitory neurons? Are we capable of removing or, tuning the power off to our mental traffic lights?

If so, could that ability be taught to everyone who is on the spectrum? Do we possess the ability to cure or improve our functioning within ourselves and just haven't realized that yet?

We know that as we learn, we develop new neuro pathways and, make new connections. Once we know something well, it's second nature for our minds to rout input the correct way, for us to think that way so, can we also destroy faulty pathways when we learn?

The human brain is a powerful tool that can affect every part of the body with only a thought so, it seems reasonable to me that it can also affect itself physically with only a thought. How much could we cure or resolve with thought alone if we could unlock the full potential of our brains?
While I would be gung ho for a medical cure, I think your beliefs are positive and progressive. If this research leads to you description of a "cure" I applaud you. However, I do think that those on the spectrum who refused this form of treatment might find themselves the recipients of severe criticism. Do I really have the right to annoy most of the people I interact with when there is a valid cure available?
 
When I think of a sports player making, multi millions, or folks jumping up and down chattering like chimpanzees because they won a lifetime supply of Acme brand self sharpening razor blades on a game show or the malice and hate directed towards those of a different culture, my first thought is to implant a few miniature brains in the normals. Starting with the world leaders in general, and the mental myopic that are unable or unwilling to abandon their childhood fears, specifically. I think that would be a good start!
 
"the researchers focused on the approximately one-fifth of autism patients that share a distinctive feature correlated with disease severity--an enlarged brain."

The scientists used the most severe cases to develop a baseline for study. The tiny peti-dish grown brains showed 'an unexpected overproduction of inhibitory neurons' which were cultured from skin cells.

This kind of study would help to rule out certain factors, and indicate areas of the brain to look for genetically mutated DNA. Growing cells in a lab would not account for invitro influences, birth trauma, nutrition, or environment, all factors related to autism. Although I applaud the 'looking' for mutations, I don't necessarily agree that mutated DNA can actually be repaired.
 
"the researchers focused on the approximately one-fifth of autism patients that share a distinctive feature correlated with disease severity--an enlarged brain."

The scientists used the most severe cases to develop a baseline for study. The tiny peti-dish grown brains showed 'an unexpected overproduction of inhibitory neurons' which were cultured from skin cells.

This kind of study would help to rule out certain factors, and indicate areas of the brain to look for genetically mutated DNA. Growing cells in a lab would not account for invitro influences, birth trauma, nutrition, or environment, all factors related to autism. Although I applaud the 'looking' for mutations, I don't necessarily agree that mutated DNA can actually be repaired.

Mia, this seems to be more a matter of epigenetics, the turning a gene on or off, which does seem to be controlled by numerous environmental factors.
Two examples: the change in human diet long, long ago to much higher protein diet is directly linked to increased brain development. The switch from hunter gathering society to a grain based diet seems to have also have changed our genetic make up. I am sure that my position can be supported by some here or scientific studies
 
Despite this being an autism forum, when I read "The Cure" I was thinking about music.

And, no, nothing about me needs cured. I'm not disabled. Disabled autistics might appreciate it, but I am not one of them. Heck, if I get a cure then I might lose my OCD and then I'll end up losing my job! You do NOT want an accountant who is not OCD. Bad things happen.
 
Does it also set back the clock of my life back another 25 years, give me a giant bag of money and perspectives to start over in college or university among a few other things?

No? In that case I'm good where I am, since my AS is the least of my worries right now...
 
If you read my first response, I said I would participate in order to further an acceptable cure. It is certainly too late for me. Also, if I were to be cured at my age I don't think I could shed all the harsh feeling I have for those NTs who haven't been good at tolerating me. I would see this as a prenatal intervention and the child is born free of Autism. I would not wish being on the spectrum on anyone because it has caused me so much unhappiness. I can't be proud because I am weird! I am proud that I treat people with other unappealing afflictions with kindness and consideration and support them as they strive to overcome any hardships they may be experiencing.
 
While it would be inhumane to not want a cure for those who need to jump off the spectrum ride,I seek no cure for myself. Not everyone on the autism spectrum has a horrible life,maybe challenging at times,but not the end of days for some of us.
 
While I would be gung ho for a medical cure, I think your beliefs are positive and progressive. If this research leads to you description of a "cure" I applaud you. However, I do think that those on the spectrum who refused this form of treatment might find themselves the recipients of severe criticism. Do I really have the right to annoy most of the people I interact with when there is a valid cure available?

Yes
 
Despite this being an autism forum, when I read "The Cure" I was thinking about music.

Me too, but when I wrote it all I could think of was Ian McKellen/Magneto declaring: "We don't need a cure!"

Do I really have the right to annoy most of the people I interact with when there is a valid cure available?

The way I see it, anyone can choose to be annoyed, but it's their choice and their responsibility.

 

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