Reply #35: Lovely job of moving the goalposts

[TrogL]

AFAIK, no difference in brain chemistry overall has been found in autistic children - it's in the wiring.

Even then, you won't be satisfied.

I'm reminded of a story arc in 'Stand on Zanzibar'. The massive Artifical Intelligence computer Shalmanazar has ground to a halt and refuses to do meaningful work because of an inconsistency it has found in some data. It will not proceed until a "cause" is found to explain the discrepency. Eventually a philosopher known for his out-of-the-box thinking is hired to deal with the situation. He merely tells Shalmanazar that an "unknown but real factor" is causing the discrepency. The lights go on and Shalmanazar goes back to cranking out reports.

For God's sake stop obsessing on what causes autism - we may never know. Some Aspies feel that they're the next step in evolution and don't want to be fixed. Let's figure out what we can do for the kids, not to them.

When I grew up (1960's) mercury was everywhere. My father (a chemistry teacher) would bring some home from school for me to play with. It was in thermometers (alcohol is cheaper). It was used as a topical antibiotic (mercurichrome). It's since been taken off the market. (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2518/what-happened-to-mercurochrome.) Autism levels went up. Go figure.

You know what's the highest source of mercury exposure at the moment? Fish. You know what's the best delivery for nutrition required for brain development (eg. omega fatty acids)? Fish.

Go figure.