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Asperger Syndrome Tied To Low Cortisol Levels

Posted by timothy on from the years-of-single-minded-study dept.

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.'"

3 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Article by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  2. I have 5 mod points that I won't use here. by Samschnooks · · Score: 4, Interesting
    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.

  3. Re:WHAT? by Saxophonist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.)