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Gut Microbes Linked to Autism-Like Symptoms in Mice
sciencehabit writes "Many physicians and parents report that their autistic children have unusually severe gastrointestinal problems, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea. These observations have led some researchers to speculate that an ailing gut contributes to the disorder in some cases, but scientific data has been lacking. Now, a provocative study claims that a probiotic treatment for gastrointestinal issues can reduce autismlike symptoms in mice and suggests that this treatment could work for humans, too."
Imagine the implications of an autism vaccine.
I, for one, am looking forward to the inevitable
Firstly, they discovered that the autistic-model mouse had very different gut biota and suffered from digestive tract issues. The new bacterium didn't establish itself, but it did perturb the gut bacteria community to be closer to control mice, and reduced digestive tract issues.
Secondly, they discovered that this perturbation reduced the autism-model symptoms in the autism-model mice quite markedly.
Thirdly, they discovered a gut metabolite that was elevated in untreated autism-model mice versus control mice or treated autism-model mice. However providing that metabolite to control mice only caused an increase in anxiety behaviours, and not the specific autistic ones. So it's not just the metabolite which is responsible for the behaviours.
I wonder if there's some underlying difference in the neurology of the autism-model mice such that the metabolite "sets off" the autism-model behaviours rather than anxiety. Or perhaps the metabolite causes anxiety in both communities but the anxiety only then "sets off" the autism-model behaviours in the autism-model mice.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
They make people take a "food diary" when they think there's some sort of dietary involvement in a problem. You write down everything you consume so that you don't have to remember what you had in the three days before that migraine or outbreak of stomach cramps, or whatever. Could be interesting to blanket-issue food diaries and health questionnaires to a large population.
No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
Isn't this the same thing Wakefield was trying to prove before he committed research fraud and started the whole "vaccines cause autism" nonsense?
TLR
A man no more knows his destiny than a tea leaf knows the history of the East India Company
Of course gut microbe play a role. Some aggressive species are able to attack the gut's cells, which cause the leaky gut syndrome, where food proteins not completely digested can enter the bloodstream. The immune system will seek and destroy them, every day, on every meal. That can trigger allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Moreover proteins from milk and wheat contains sequences that are hard to break down, and that can activate morphine receptors in the brain. They are called caseomorphins and gliadomorphins. Some (but not all) autists have success in reducing their symptoms by adopting a diet without diary product and gluten, and it is suspected this is for that reason.
Didn't you hear? She cured her son's autism using a gluten-free diet and some other nonsense that you can probably read about in her book. Yes, Playboy Model cures a developmental disorder that scientists don't even have a complete understanding for yet. She must be a genius!
[end sarcasm]
(Disclaimer: Both my son and I have Asperger's Syndrome/High Functioning Autism and claims that someone is going to "cure" me or my son are just insulting. A treatment to alleviate symptoms for the folks on the "low functioning" end of the spectrum maybe, but curing someone implies that there's something wrong with that person and I don't see Autism as "wrong", just as a different way of thinking - one that happens to come in very handy at times.)
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
It's anecdotal and has no empirical backing. Pilot studies aren't showing promise, but a larger study is required to make any definitive conclusions.
It's likely because of the incidence of intestinal disorders, namely celiac disease, switching the diet is providing treatment for the specific disorder improves their children's symptoms, but isn't actually affecting the underlying autism.
That was what stood out to me. They noticed that the mice weren't as social, but they don't know WHY. I can't personally speak for the lower-functioning end of the Autism spectrum, but on the high functioning end (i.e. Asperger's Syndrome), the autistic individual WANTS very much to socialize, but literally doesn't know how. They can figure out how and "emulate" neurotypical enough to carry on conversations, but this is taxing on them and they can't keep it up forever without needing time to decompress. Like how an emulated application never runs as fast as a native application. Neurotypicals run "socializing" as a native app. Aspies emulate it (with varying degrees of success).
Add in the fact that Aspies can be so afraid of making a mistake while "emulating neurotypical" (possibly insulting someone) that it is easier and safer to just not interact at all. To the outside world, it looks like Aspies just are anti-social and would rather be left alone.
So maybe the mice really did want to socialize with other mice but didn't know the mouse social protocols that other mice knew instinctively. Or maybe there was another reason for their lack of socialization. At most, this might lead to treatments that remove some stumbling blocks which prevent autistic individuals from functioning in the neurotypical world. Not all stumbling blocks, but some of them. If it's a treatment that helps autistic individuals, great. If some woo folks grab onto this and start claiming to be able to "cure" autism by following their woo diet, very bad.
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
Didn't you hear? She cured her son's autism using a gluten-free diet and some other nonsense that you can probably read about in her book. Yes, Playboy Model cures a developmental disorder that scientists don't even have a complete understanding for yet. She must be a genius!
[end sarcasm]
And what's wrong with that? Don't forget that science is bogged down by belief. I also 'cured' my autism through diet and other 'nonsense'.
(Disclaimer: Both my son and I have Asperger's Syndrome/High Functioning Autism and claims that someone is going to "cure" me or my son are just insulting. A treatment to alleviate symptoms for the folks on the "low functioning" end of the spectrum maybe, but curing someone implies that there's something wrong with that person and I don't see Autism as "wrong", just as a different way of thinking - one that happens to come in very handy at times.)
Oh grow up already. A cure doesn't mean you lose who you are, it means you discover more of who you are meant to be. Of course, most people, like you, are too scared shitless of being anything besides what they know and are comfortable with. Don't let your fears, biases, and beliefs affect your son, that would be more detrimental to him than any 'cure' could ever be. A point of view is only useful if one recognises it as just one tool in a full toolbox. If you can't change viewpoints at will then it is not a positive in your life, it means your reality is constrained. This applies to both NT's and autists.
Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.