Asperger Syndrome Tied To Low Cortisol Levels

caffiend666 writes "According to a Health Day article, low levels of a stress hormone may be responsible for the obsession with routine and dislike for new experiences common in children with a certain type of autism. 'This study suggests that children with AS may not adjust normally to the challenge of a new environment on waking,' study researcher David Jessop, from the University of Bristol, said in the news release. 'This may affect the way they subsequently engage with the world around them.'"

Comments

Re:Article

[Marxist Hacker 42]

FTFA:

If these Asperger symptoms are caused primarily by stress, caregivers could learn to steer children away from situations that would add to anxiety, the researchers said.

 
But as a diagnosed asperger's sufferer myself, NONONONONONONONO! This is EXACTLY the type of wrong response we've been getting all along to this disease. No, you don't "steer the children away" from situations, you train them to find other ways to deal with the situation. And you work on research to find other ways to increase Cortisol production.
 
I think it would help mightily if the researchers on High Functioning Autism, actually had High Functioning Autism themselves. Then maybe we'd have suggestions that would really help in the real world.

I have 5 mod points that I won't use here.

[Samschnooks]

I get 5 or sometimes 15???

Anyway....

I never see these studies that say they weed out child abuse. I know for a fact (sorry no cites or sites and I'm relying on personal experience here ... ) that child abuse will result in the same symptoms as Asperger's. That's what I'm wondering. You have one crowd who's looking for a biological reason and another who's looking for a behavioral.

I don't know what to say. We're complex and any studies like this needs to be taken with a grain of salt or two.

Re:Article

[Thelasko]

Basically, you just said "maybe... maybe not".

Yup, I'm guessing that administering cortisol was beyond the scope of the experiment. We won't know the answer until someone tries it.

This is good science. It leaves the reader with more questions than it answered. That means MORE FUNDING!

Re:WHAT?

[Saxophonist]

Parent's comment, while appearing funny, has more than a grain of truth.

I have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and while it certainly comes with some challenges, I wouldn't change the fact that I have it. I wouldn't want to give up the quirks and abilities that have been a part of me my whole life. A quote seems appropriate here:

"Not everyone on the autism spectrum wants to be cured." -- Sigourney Weaver

(Note: I have nothing to do with the linked blog.)

Re:WTF?

[JCSoRocks]

They're just in the "zone" in their "cave" - http://www.randsinrepose.com/archives/2007/11/11/the_nerd_handbook.html
I like BSing with my coworkers as much as the next guy but lets be honest: people being social = less work getting done.

Prednisone

[e1618978]

Is Cortisol related to Prednisone? 40 mg of Prednisone made me *feel* Autistic - I couldn't look at people when they were talking, it was too overstimulating to see their lips move while I listened to their voice.

Re:Prednisone

[Anonymous Coward]

They are related. After about a week on Prednisone your body is unable to produce Cortisol on its own. This is the reason that patients are weened off of it so slowly.

I posted earlier (as anon there too); I am suspected of having Asperger's. I do have Crohn's Disease and have spent a great deal of my life on Prednisone (so much of it that I had osteoporosis by 18 years old). I've had Asperger's symptoms my entire life, but only began treatment for Crohn's when I was diagnosed with it at 12. Reading this article makes me think that these things may be related.

Re:WTF?

[RockWolf]

They're just in the "zone" in their "cave" - http://www.randsinrepose.com/archives/2007/11/11/the_nerd_handbook.html I like BSing with my coworkers as much as the next guy but lets be honest: people being social = less work getting done.

I have mod-points, but I'd rather post.

I'd like to echo the sibling post and say thanks for linking - I came across that article maybe 2 months ago, and it -perfectly- mirrors my working environment and habits.

However, your off-the-cuff comment regarding productivity seems poorly timed. This current /. article cites a study that says a worker that spends a reasonable proportion of their working day browsing (~20%) is 9% more productive than a worker who grinds through the day. Maybe this is due to a mental page-out during a context switch, but it seems to clear the mind. Some people go for a smoke, though the productivity effects of that break are presumably partially from the nicotine hit, as well as the switch. Others have a 5 minute chat around the water cooler, others prefer /.. It seems that a break that gives the brain time to develop a 1000-yard stare and run the garbage cleaner helps concentration levels. Of course, if the water-cooler chats go for 3 hours, that's not helping anyone.

~/Rockwolf