Autism gene discovery could lead to early treatment

[HuckleB]

Source: WebMD

"The prospect of more effective treatments for people with autism has been raised after researchers said they had made a breakthrough in discovering how genes play a part in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

ASDs are a group of conditions in which people may have difficulties with social interaction and communication, and display restricted and repetitive behaviour.

The autism genes have been discovered by an international team of researchers and their findings appear in the latest edition of the journal Nature.

...

The importance of genes on the development of autism has been known for some time, but most experts have believed that people with autism share common genetic variations in a few genes. The latest research shows that genetic variations are rare and that most individuals with autism have their own unique genetic form of the condition.

..."

Read more: http://www.webmd.boots.com/news/20100609/autism-gene-discovery-could-lead-to-early-treatment

---

A nice step forward.

:hi:

[thereismore]

1. It's not a single gene. That's the problem. nt

[Ian David]

2. But at least we know for a fact that it's not the vaccines.

[mzmolly]

4. According to the article

The difficulty of establishing gene involvement is compounded by the interaction of genes with the environment.

Obviously there are genetic and environmental factors involved. Vaccines/infections for some, may play a role.

[liberation]

9. I don't think the article gives any data for the claim you are making at the end

[mzmolly]

28. The article doesn't

mention the same specific environmental factors, true. What environmental factors do you feel may be involved?

[cap]

55. Here's an article about the environmental factors that may affect autism

and other neurodevelopemental diseases. See the link pointing to the European Union's SCALE study. They go through a number of chemicals and discuss the scientific literature and the needs for future research. The usual suspects are fingered:
* Lead
* Mercury
* Cadmium
* Hexavalent chromium
* Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
* Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

http://journeythroughthecortex.blogspot.com/2010/06/toxic-america-just-scratches-surface-on.html#more

Also, talks about Europe's Regulations: RoHS.

[mzmolly]

56. Far too many

culprits. :(

[cap]

57. yup... it's a complex disease

One of the leading researchers at Harvard on the environmental connection to autism: Dr. Mary Herbert said that autism is changing the way that research is done because it is a very complex, heterogeneous disease. That's why they call it a spectrum disorder. She wants the disease studied in clusters of subpopulations.

[msanthrope]

30. Of course it doesn't--but the 'vaccines causes autism' theory morphs

to fit any and all scientific knowledge that might dispute it.

Genetic cause to autism???? Great. That now means that vaccines, or fevers you get because of the vaccines, 'trigger' the genes.

Really, the woo just morphs....

[mzmolly]

31. Environmental factors including perhaps vaccination/viral infections

may play a role is what I've indicated. I didn't say vaccines "cause" autism. If they play a role, they're certainly not alone.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=autism-rise-driven-by-environment

"Research links soaring incidence of the mysterious neurological disorder to fetal and infant exposure to pesticides, viruses, household chemicals"

[msanthrope]

32. As I said, the woo just morphs--if vaccines don't 'cause' they now

'trigger' or 'play a role.'

What you quoted DOES NOT mention exposure to vaccines--you added it, see:

"Research links soaring incidence of the mysterious neurological disorder to fetal and infant exposure to pesticides, viruses, household chemicals"

Doesn't mention vaccines...

[mzmolly]

33. The second article mentions viral infections.

I mentioned vaccines specifically as a potential catalyst. Hannah Polling is an example of how they do 'play a role' for some.

[msanthrope]

34. Hannah Poling had a point mutation on 16S ribosomal RNA. It can cause

mitochondrial encephalopathy. Which is what the child had. No one proved that vaccines 'triggered' this gene.

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowFulltext&ArtikelNr=54051&Ausgabe=228032&ProduktNr=224178


I suggest you read Orac for the actual scientific explanation of this case..


http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=203

[mzmolly]

35. Polings mother has the same mutation and no autism.

The courts ruled that vaccines (combined with her genetic makeup) triggered or "aggravated" her "autism like symptoms." So, I suggest you listen to the Polings. Dr. Poling is a neurologist. Hannah's Mother is an RN and an attorney. Start watching at three minutes for the specific quotes below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Ru-Tp27AM

"The vaccines were related to her illness" ... "I think her case is echoed in several other cases." ~ Dr. Polling - Neurologist

[msanthrope]

40. So her mother has the same vaccines, same mutation, and no autism--

Hannah Poling definitely had a vaccine injury. But she also had a rare mito disorder that was aggravated by vaccines. The Polings agreed, in settlement, that Hannah had encephalopathy that left her with features of ASD.

Are you honestly suggesting that children with autism all have encephalopathy?

She's an outlier. And although the anti-vax movement has tried to use this poor child, it hasn't worked, has it?


And here's what the government found, and the Polings conceeded to, and accepted settlement for:


"In sum, DVIC has concluded that the facts of this case meet the statutory criteria for demonstrating that the vaccinations CHILD received on July 19, 2000, significantly aggravated an underlying mitochondrial disorder, which predisposed her to deficits in cellular energy metabolism, and manifested as a regressive encephalopathy with features of autism spectrum disorder. Therefore, respondent recommends that compensation be awarded to petitioners in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-11(c)(1)(C)(ii)."


http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/02/full-text-autis.html


There has not been a single similar case. Not one.


ETA about the source--Age of Autism are freaks, but this is a reprint of a government document, not opinion or comment from them.

[mzmolly]

42. No, not the same vaccines.

You do know that the number of vaccines have increased in the past 30 plus years, right?

"Are you honestly suggesting that children with autism all have encephalopathy?"

Not at ALL. I'm suggesting that there are more Hannah Polings that have not been acknowledged. Are you suggesting she's the only child who has ever had a vaccine "significantly aggravate an underlying mitochondrial disorder...?"

"There has not been a single similar case. Not one."

One could argue that there hasn't been a child with autism who was fortunate enough to have a Neurologist and a Nurse/Attorney for parents. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been a similar injury. One would be a fool to think so.

[msanthrope]

45. So now you are down to speculation that there MUST be more...

both cases, and vaccines....

Kindly point to the vaccine Terry Poling did not get, but Hannah Poling did get, that caused autism, and not encephalopathy, in Hannah Poling.

Which one?


As to your second point, you wrote:

"But that doesn't mean there hasn't been a similar injury. One would be a fool to think so." That is useful speculation--but as Dr. Poling himself points out, not a single case...


"To our knowledge, this point mutation has not been reported in cases similar to Hannah’s."

http://www.swflparent.com/COMMUNITY/blogs/autism/archive/2008/03/11/dr-poling-responds-to-autism-vaccine-nay-sayers.aspx


Here's something else pretty interesting in Poling's letter....he states that he thinks that nuclear DNA is involved, too. That would explain why two females (Hannah and Terry) have the same mutation, but only one gets encepalopathy. Obviously, they would have different nuclear DNA.

And in fact, if I remember my Biology classes, nuclear involvment would HAVE to happen, because of the turnover rate of mito DNA. (You make all new mitoDNA every year)

Poling never makes the claim that his wife, and RN somehow didn't get a certain vaccine that Hannah did get.

ETA--downthread, you are defending Andrew Wakefield....and that's a Godwin, IMHO. Good day.

[mzmolly]

49. The child had numerous vaccines in one day.

The link you posted below will fill you in. In addition, a few decades ago, we had fewer vaccines. I believe we're having the same discussion below and as such, I've responded to you points.

[msanthrope]

67. Name the vaccine that caused the problem. n/t

[mzmolly]

70. .

:eyes:

[trotsky]

82. It is also worth noting that Hannah Poling would have in near certainty...

had the same reaction and same manifestation of symptoms had she been exposed to the real pathogens instead of a vaccine. The anti-vax crusaders either don't understand, or don't want to acknowledge that. Considering they're as ill-informed about science and medicine as they are basic logic, and further considering just how emotionally DEVOTED they are to the ideas that vaccines are THE cause, it's hard to say which.

[HuckleB]

83. +1

[annoyingrhetoric]

88. Hannah Poling and Mito encephalopathy....

To whomever,

It has NEVER been said by anyone but Paul Offit that Hannah has a mito encephalopathy. He says this as it serves his purpose. Go back and look where you read that and you will see his mark. I should know...I am her mother.

[Chulanowa]

38. it's sort of the "God of the gaps" argument, isn't it?

[msanthrope]

41. It really is, isn't it....

We don't know, so insert woo....

When given actual scientific evidence, bend the woo.

When proven dead frakin' wrong, scream Big Pharma Conspiracy! And take these herbal supplements...

[mzmolly]

43. Apparently there is only one "gap"

and her name is Hannah Poling. No other like person in existence.

[msanthrope]

46. Well, given the interplay of MtDNA and nuclear DNA, yes.

You do realize that her father, who you quote, has speculated that nuclear DNA is also involved in the mito condition.

Which explains why you have Hannah and Hannah's mother having the same mito point mutation, but not the same manifestations.

Which also suggests, by its very nature that you ain't gonna see this again unless you get the same mtDNA and nuclear DNA....as in, you clone her.

"Thus, this mutation probably represents a benign polymorphism rather than pathogenic mutation. It is unlikely, but possible, that the mutation is significant to Hannah, but in such a case, it must work in concert with other nuclear genes to cause her mitochondrial dysfunction. To our knowledge, this point mutation has not been reported in cases similar to Hannah’s."


http://www.swflparent.com/COMMUNITY/blogs/autism/archive/2008/03/11/dr-poling-responds-to-autism-vaccine-nay-sayers.aspx

ETA--downthread, you are defending Andrew Wakefield...IMHO, a Godwin.

[mzmolly]

48. Did you read your the link you provided?

"How many Hannah Polings are out there?

The short answer is that nobody knows. However, there is emerging data to suggest that she is not alone." ~ Dr. Poling

The article says much, much more, but this is the key point.

"I agree with the mainstream that my daughter’s case has raised many intelligent discussions and questions. I’m very proud of her for starting this discussion. Our hope is that further research into this case and others like it, we will be also to find screening tests to prevent what happened to my daughter from happening to anybody else." ~ Dr. Poling

Hear hear! Let's stop pretending that Poling's case was the first and last of its kind and start trying to identify these children in advance.

[msanthrope]

52. Care to cite said emerging data that shows a Poling repeat? With the same genetic markers?

In any event, your defense of Wakefield makes further debate unnecessary. Good day.

[mzmolly]

54. One doesn't need to be cloned to have like issues with Hannah Poling,

contrary to your odd assertion. Also, I quoted your article as per Dr. Poling above. More from the interview:

"Dr. Shoffner will be presenting his experience with 37 patients with
combined autism and mitochondrial dysfunction at the AAN meeting in Chicago
this April. 65% of his referrals are positive for mitochondrial dysfunction.
Of course, his yield is subject to referral bias as a mito expert, so the
prevalence of mitochondrial dysfunction in Autism is surely less than 65%.

The best estimate to date of the prevalence of mitochondrial dysfunction in
autistic patients comes from Oliviera et al. in a population of 120, 5 of 69
(or 7.2%) showed mitochondrial dysfunction. If this is generalized to the US
estimate of 1 million patients with ASDs, then the number of kids like
Hannah could be 72,000! ..."

Here is a spin free interview with the Dr. if you're interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxfgqsZ8BV0&feature=related

[msanthrope]

66. Do you have a scientific source other than YouTube?

I hate to be a stickler...but do you have the 72k sources you claim?

[msanthrope]

68. Cite your assertions....from other than YouTube. n/t

[mzmolly]

69. The source was your article ala

Dr. Poling.

[msanthrope]

76. Right--can you give a source that PROVES the claim Poling made? n/t

[mzmolly]

78. It's your source

and Poling's claim. You'll have to decide whether or not you find him credible. I am not going to dig for the data as it would do no good for you to see evidence, given you've snapped your eyes shut.

[laconicsax]

72. Doesn't the uniqueness of the case tip you off that it's not representative of a larger whole?

'cause it doesn't make much sense to use a completely unique case as an example of a larger claim. That is unless you aren't really interested in the truth and just want to promote an anti-vaccine agenda by whatever dishonest means necessary.

[mzmolly]

73. How unique is it? According to Polings father (a neurologist) -

"The best estimate to date of the prevalence of mitochondrial dysfunction in
autistic patients comes from Oliviera et al. in a population of 120, 5 of 69
(or 7.2%) showed mitochondrial dysfunction. If this is generalized to the US
estimate of 1 million patients with ASDs, then the number of kids like
Hannah could be 72,000! ..."

Is it anti-vaccine to note that people can have allergic reactions to vaccines as well?

[laconicsax]

74. IIRC, someone I'll bet you agree with 100% said the following about the case:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4420311&mesg_id=4421380">"...her name is Hannah Poling. No other like person in existence."

So which is it? You can't have it both ways.

[mzmolly]

77. Is that all you have to add?

Hannah Poling is an individual who has autism like many others. Autism is not unique to her, neither is the catalyst in her case, vaccination. According to a neurologist, who happens to be Hannah's father, there may be as many as 72,000 cases like Hannah's in the US.

[laconicsax]

81. That you're contradicting yourself? Yes.

You can't have it both ways. Either the case is unique, as you stated above, or it isn't, as you're now maintaining (based on her father's ad hoc reckon).

So which is it? Did you misrepresent the truth in #43, or are you misrepresenting the truth with your contradictory claim?

[mzmolly]

86. Actually my original response in this vein was one of

sarcasm. Sorry that wasn't entirely clear.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4420311&mesg_id=4421380

[laconicsax]

87. Apology accepted. n/t

[Chulanowa]

11. So might the aroma of bacon, by that criteria

[Barack_America]

25. My husband certainly seems to tune-out to all else when he smells bacon.

[mzmolly]

26. If you know of any studies

pointing to bacon aroma and its role in neurological disorders, please do share.

[Chulanowa]

37. If you know of any studies doing the same for vaccinations, let me know.

You've got Wakefield, who's research is compromised (to understate) by his economic interest in the results if his own study and the ethical violations he engaged in to reach the desired result in his study. This study has not been corroborated by any others in any related fields of medicine or biology.

By your standards, bacon, purring cats, nitrogen, or space alien probes could all be just as likely as vaccines.

[mzmolly]

44. There are other studies that

implicate vaccines in various disease, including neurological disease. Incidentally, Wakefield suggested three separate vaccines vs. the single MMR jab. I have no idea how he became the "anti-vaccine" bogeyman other than a good PR campaign by those who wished to http://industry.bnet.com/pharma/10001990/merck-created-hit-list-to-destroy-neutralize-or-discredit-dissenting-doctors/">neutralize him.

[msanthrope]

47. You are defending Andrew Wakefield?

Well, as far as I am concerned, you just Godwinned....

If you can defend a man who lied in order to pimp his own patent, then good luck to you....

http://briandeer.com/mmr/lancet-summary.htm

[mzmolly]

50. What I said is that Wakefield suggested THREE vaccines vs. ONE

so I'm not sure how he became a useful idiot for either side of this debate. Wakefield is pro-vaccine.

[msanthrope]

51. Again, your professed ignorance of Andrew Wakefield's wrongdoing

makes further debate with you useless.

Good day.

[mzmolly]

53. LOL. Feel free to bow out

of the discussion any way you like. :hi:

[Chulanowa]

59. Care to provide thse sources?

And the reason Wakefield promoted that scheme is because Wakefield has his own measles vaccine on the market. However, its sales are very poor, because the MMR vaccine is the preferred choice. ergo, to make money off of his own vaccine, he needs to have MMR damaged.

Enter the arm-waving about autism.

Basically if MMR is dethroned, Wakefield stands to make enormous monetary gains. Combine that with his unscientific and unethical "studies" and you've got a lice little cow pat.

[mzmolly]

63. Sure, here are a few studies from pubmed and other sources for starters.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17114826">Aluminum adjuvant linked to Gulf War illness induces motor neuron death in mice.

"The findings suggest a possible role for the aluminum adjuvant in some neurological features associated with GWI and possibly an additional role for the combination of adjuvants."

Follow up study - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19740540">Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration.

"A second series of experiments was conducted on mice injected with six doses of aluminum hydroxide. Behavioural analyses in these mice revealed significant impairments in a number of motor functions as well as diminished spatial memory capacity. The demonstrated neurotoxicity of aluminum hydroxide and its relative ubiquity as an adjuvant suggest that greater scrutiny by the scientific community is warranted."

http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/7/1/20">Mercury induces inflammatory mediator release from human mast cells.

"The results of the present study support the biological plausibility of how mercury could contribute to ASD pathogenesis by inducing VEGF and IL-6 release from mast cells, and as a result disrupt the BBB and thus permit brain inflammation. Further studies should investigate the effect of mercury and thimerosal alone or together with allergic and non-immune triggers."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16079072">Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal.

Wiki breaks down the infant monkey study as follows:

"Burbacher determined that injected ethylmercury cleared from the bloodstream much more rapidly than ingested methylmercury. However, his study also found that a larger fraction of the ethylmercury remained in the brains of the macaques, where it was converted to potentially more harmful inorganic compounds. Burbacher did not draw conclusions regarding the relative toxicity of ethylmercury versus methylmercury, but did warn that methylmercury is unlikely to be a suitable reference for evaluating ethylmercury toxicity. The problem, according to Burbacher, is that regulators trying to assess the potential harm of TCVs used methylmercury, a widely studied compound, as a benchmark for mercury exposure, rather than the little-known compound called ethylmercury used in TCVs.

Burbacher has said "The bottom line is that trying to assess the effects of a compound with very little or no data is not a good thing to do. ... Unfortunately, we started doing studies on this compound way too late. Basic information like this should've been available decades ago."<3>

Regarding Wakefield, your criticism above is entirely fair IMHO.

[Chulanowa]

75. Regarding Autism? n/t

[mzmolly]

79. The last two studies I noted relate specifically to the subject. Did you check out the links?

From the JNI study earlier this year:

"Heavy metals such as mercury result in neurological injury that may lead to developmental defects, peripheral neuropathies, and enhanced neurodegenerative changes <1>. Mercurials may be found in various drugs, in bleaching creams, antiseptics, disinfectants, as preservatives in cosmetics, tooth pastes, lens solutions, vaccines, contraceptives and immunotherapy solutions, fungicides, herbicides and in dental fillings, as well as in fish such as tuna due to water pollution <2>. Mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunction similar to those associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) <2>. The possible role of mercury used as preservative in vaccines <2> has been debated extensively, but most epidemiological studies do not support a causal association between vaccines and autism <3-7>. However, 87% of children included in the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) had ASD <8>. Moreover, a paper based on computerized medical records in the Vaccine Safety Data-link concluded there was "significantly increased rate ratios for ASD with mercury exposure from thiomerosal-containing vaccines"<9>. Mercury has been shown to induce proliferation and cytokine production from T lymphocytes <10>. Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) in nontoxic doses induces the release of histamine and cytokines, such as IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), from a murine mast cell line and from mouse bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells <11>. HgCl2 (100 μM) also enhances immunoglobulin E-mediated mediator release from human basophils <12>, and histamine release from a rat basophil cell line (RBL-2H3) <13>."

...

Conclusions

"HgCl2 stimulates VEGF and IL-6 release from human mast cells. This phenomenon could disrupt the blood-brain-barrier and permit brain inflammation. As a result, the findings of the present study provide a biological mechanism for how low levels of mercury may contribute to ASD pathogenesis."

That said, one may not see "autism" per-se noted in every related study, given the ramifications. However, my comment above was broad, as it related to potential neurological damage which is more wide spread.

[RZM]

7. This is the second time

I've seen that Wakefield-Morans mash-up on DU and it's still LOL-inducing :)

[Ian David]

8. Thanks! n/t

[msanthrope]

27. Thank you for the 'Moran/Wakefield' sign. Too bad you can't tag certain posts with it. n/t

[HuckleB]

71. I never use the term fact, at least if I'm not overtired.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/autism_and_the_search_for_simp.php

"One fact is so obvious that it's unfortunate I have to mention it: no external agent, such as a vaccine, can generate a consistent pattern of duplication and deletions in an affected individual's cells. These data say it's an error to chase down transient environmental agents given relatively late in life to people."

Combine that with this reality: "While studies suggest as many as 90 percent of cases of autism spectrum disorder are genetic, the genes responsible were widely sought and hard to find."

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-09/autism-s-genetic-ties-may-lead-to-early-detection-treatment.html

And, yeah, you're probably correct, though I still wouldn't use the word fact.

[mzmolly]

3. Wonderful to consider that intervention

can be started sooner and potential precautions might taken to avoid environmental triggers when possible.

"This study furthers our understanding of genetic variation in autism; however there is a great deal more research to be done.

“Research into autism is constantly evolving but the exact causes are as yet still unknown. The difficulty of establishing gene involvement is compounded by the interaction of genes with the environment.

[Ezlivin]

5. For Jenny McCarthy?

Just askin'...

[Ian David]

6. I think it's caused by exposure to Jim Carey movies.

The rate of Autism diagnoses have increased at about the same rate as the number of people viewing Jim Carey films.

In fact, until the sitcom Duck Soup was on the air, I'd never even HEARD of anyone with Autism.

Coincidence?

I think not!

[liberation]

10. Interesting theory, you may be on to something...

There is also the possibility of leaking silicone implants interacting negatively with the embryo during the gestation period. But I assume Jenny McCarthy is not interested in pursuing that line of causation. It must be them evil vaccines, not her lifestyle decisions and precious immaculate genes... no siree bob.

[KamaAina]

17. My Mom does not have implants so stop saying that!

or casting asparagus or whatever. :P

[HuckleB]

24. Ah, yes, the theory of the immaculate gene.

I forgot all about that one!

[KamaAina]

13. But I loathe Jim Carrey!

There goes that theory... :P

[Ian David]

21. You could have been exposed to "Once Bitten" while in the womb. n/t

[KamaAina]

22. I'm in my mid-40s.

Mom did mention some fairly heavy prenatal exposure to CCR's Cosmo's Factory, though. :-)

[Ian David]

23. There ya go. n/t

[lolly]

12. Might be helpful to know if you carry the gene as well

I've been curious for a while about the idea of "triggers" that might make a susceptible child more likely to become autistic.

I've always wondered what was going on with my son as a toddler. He was a very late talker, wouldn't look people in the eye, and displayed some minor repetitive behavior. I talked to his ped about it, and she asked me if he liked to walk around on his toes.

I said he hadn't, and she said that was a good sign, he probably didn't exhibit autism.

About a week later, he started walking on his toes--not all the time, but a lot. Yes, I got pretty worried.

Before I could get him back to the dr. and start testing, however, he stopped. So I've always wondered--was there a trigger that was somehow stopped? Or reset somehow?

He has since been diagnosed by the school psychologist as borderline Asperger's, and I tend to think that's an accurate diagnosis. It would be nice in the future for him to know if he should take steps to mitigate the possibility of autism, though.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Every $@*($&ing toddler does that.

They all walk around on their toes at some point, that's perfectly normal.

[lolly]

19. My other 3 didn't

But thanks for your insight.

[emmadoggy]

20. Yes, as long as they eventually stop.

Some don't. As I said below, my son still toe-walks at age 8.5 and has worn AFO's for a total of 2.5 years in an effort to stop it, with only modest success.

He does not have autism, but does have sensory processing issues and we believe his toe-walking may be related to that, but persistent toe-walking can be a sign of autism spectrum disorders.

[emmadoggy]

18. My son had some "off" behaviors as a toddler

and I worried a lot too. He also was a toe-walker. Still is. He's 8 1/2 years old now and has spent a total of 2 1/2 years in AFO's to correct the toe-walking, to little avail. We did end up having him evaluated when he was 4 and they found nothing except an intelligent boy with some sensory processing issues. I knew a little bit about sensory processing at the time, but not enough for it to "click" with me that that might my son's issue. I felt so much better after finding out.

I hope that this possible breakthrough leads to better/easier diagnosis for autism.

[Spider Jerusalem]

29. One doesn't 'become autistic'.

The extent of the neurological differences in autistic spectrum disorders are of such a nature and degree that they can only have their origin fairly early in gestation (at about the stage when neural tissue differentiates)...which is evidence of some genetic factor, although influenced to what extent by environmental factors it's hard to say. But children who don't have autistic neurology (differences in white/grey matter proportions, in the hippocampus, and various other parts of the brain) aren't going to just 'become autistic'.

[lolly]

36. No, but some research suggests it can be "triggered"

And that could be helpful knowledge.

If a child/toddler has the genetic makeup, then perhaps ASDs can be prevented or mitigated if we know what those triggers are.

[cap]

58. The Scale study goes into what some possible triggers in the environment

can be. There was a panel trying to get a consensus of experts at Columbia that came out and said that there is a probable link between genes and the environment. They wouldn't say what that link was and they were being very conservative in their statements.

[JoeyT]

15. Is it the gene that predisposes a person to immunize their children?

Even though I shouldn't have to say it: :sarcasm:

[Capitalocracy]

16. One interesting idea I heard was that it might be the TV

Just an idea, not developed enough to even be a theory, of course, but what one doctor was saying was that perhaps, along with some genetic predisposition, being exposed to moving 2D images of 3D space for extended periods of time while the brain is still developing the ability to fully understand a 3D environment may be a trigger for autism.

But I would certainly never venture to guess on this one. I don't know enough about it.

BP STANDS FOR BALLOT POISON

Pledge not to vote for any candidates receiving campaign donations from BP in 2010.

Petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/bp2010/petition.html



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113423272036102

Twitter: @bpballotpoison

[laconicsax]

39. What's the selective advantage to a gene that produces thimerosal?

I suspect that this disproves evolution somehow.

[aikoaiko]

60. Science marches on.....

;-)

[HuckleB]

61. Autism and the search for simple, direct answers

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/06/autism_and_the_search_for_simp.php

A nice analysis of this study and more... with an interesting conclusion:

"One fact is so obvious that it's unfortunate I have to mention it: no external agent, such as a vaccine, can generate a consistent pattern of duplication and deletions in an affected individual's cells. These data say it's an error to chase down transient environmental agents given relatively late in life to people."

[cap]

80. It is not so simple...

Autism is a Spectrum Disorder characterized by heterogeneity, complexity chronicity, and nonspecificity. Researchers are calling for studying Subpopulations of Autism because of the diversity within the disease. The genes set the stage, and the environment pulls the trigger.

The European Union has major studies trying to determine the environmental impact of chemicals on neurodevelopmental disease including autism.

Because of the environmental conerns that trigger neurodevelopmental disorders, The Europeans have also set up import restrictions (RoHS) that US companies who wish to sell products containing mercury, lead, cadmium, PDBE, etc have to comply with.

NIH has also just put out a grant to study both the environmental impacts on autism and the use of alternative medicine to treat autistic disorders. Moms of children with autism are one of the big drivers behind using green products in the home.


http://journeythroughthecortex.blogspot.com/2010/06/tox...

[HuckleB]

84. You clearly failed to read the article I posted.

Further, even you didn't read the article, your response does not follow from the quote I posted from the article.

Try again.

[HuckleB]

62. .

[boppers]

64. We knew this from twin studies years ago.

Yet another data point showing that science trumps "gut feelings by the uneducated".

[Odin2005]

65. The eugenicists that don't want us to exist will love this.

[HughMoran]

85. Interesting

I know it runs in families (like mine), though it presents differently for each individual. A minor 'case' can be as much of an asset as a disability.