Can Aspergers cause physical changes in the body?

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looks much younger than real age. yes
wide shoulders, no, my shoulders are small and narrow
large, or flat forehead, yes somewhat large
long arms, no my arms are short

additionally, though less visible, are
hyper mobile joints, definitely not, I have poor flexibility
digestive problems, yes
poor eye sight ( or at least the need to wear specs), yes, nearsighted, -4
allergies, yes
poor motor skills yes for the most part, but good at some fine motor stuff
poor immunity no don't think so, I rarely get sick from things that are contagious

additionally, there is an established link, though no understanding why, of an incidence of PCOS in females in the family.
could possibly have this, in any case I definitely have some problems with hormonal balance

Everything is physical.

- I do look younger than 24...but what's a person supposed to look like at 24? I can't tell the difference between a teenager and a woman in her early and mid 20's, except for behaviour.
- Umm, nope, my shoulders are ordinary for my size, which is quite small. I've seen non-Autistics with wide shoulders.
- I don't have those either. (And I didn't know Ant and Dec have Asperger's????)
- I never knew about this. My arms are just average for my height, they aren't right down to my knees.

additionally, though less visible, are
- I know lots of people with hyper mobile joints.
- This can be caused by anxiety or stress. I've never really had trouble with digestion, despite the amount of anxiety and stress I have.
- I don't need glasses, but this is feasible, as many Aspies I have come across all seem to wear glasses.
- A lot of people have allergies. And although I suffer with sinus problems (which I don't relate to having Asperger's, neither did the doctors), I seem to be very clear from hay fever, while a lot of NT people around me are suffering with hay fever terribly.
Although I don't have poor motor skills, this also seems feasible, as it's also a symptom of Dyspraxia too.
- I have a very strong immune system.

I'll bite

Myself-
looks much younger than real age.
Yup. I"m 36. Look much younger.

wide shoulders,
Yup.

large, or flat forehead,
Yup.

long arms,
Nope. But I am also short statured.

additionally, though less visible, are
hyper mobile joints,
Yup

digestive problems,
Not that I'm aware really.

poor eye sight ( or at least the need to wear specs),
Yup.

allergies,
Yup.

poor motor skills
Yup.

poor immunity
Nope. It's actually very good.

Daughter-
looks much younger than real age.
Jury is out on this. She is only 6. I can't tell.

wide shoulders,
Very.

large, or flat forehead,
Huuuuuuuuge.

long arms,
Yup. So far. This could change.

additionally, though less visible, are
hyper mobile joints,
Nope.

digestive problems,
Poops 5 times a day and can barf on command. Apparently has an underdeveloped muscle in her esophogus that makes it easy to yak, and also lets stuff through too soon or something leading to needing to poop every few hours. Doc says it will resolve, but has been saying that for years. So, yep.

poor eye sight ( or at least the need to wear specs),
Not yet despite all odds against her.

allergies,
None that we are aware of, not even seasonal.

poor motor skills
Extreme.

poor immunity
Opposite. Like a gd robot. Never. Ever. Ever. Sick. Was sick a bunch as a baby and young toddler. Hasn't been legit sick in over a year. Only ben sick once or twice since age 4. NEver had a stomach bug. Never had diarrhea. Has only had a fever once or twice in her entire life. Juggernaut. Knock on wood.

Looks Younger. I did...very much, I was told. Some say I still look younger than my age, but that may be flattery.
Wide shoulders. Yes.
Large, or flat forehead[/b Not particularly large, but flat? Yes.
[b]Long Arms Short arms. Short statured as well.
Hypermobile joints Yes. Very tight built in the upper department. Hypermobile from waist down.
VisionVery good, but a little farsighted and a mild atsigmatism.
Motor skills Good with my hands, but tend to bump into things or knock things over. Balance and judgement of depth could be better.
Very good immune system and no allergies.
Actually a very good health.

Looks younger: Yes, I am 25 and look about 17.
Wide shoulders: Yes.. Although it does not help that I rock so much, so my upper stomach and shoulders really get a workout.
Large/ flat forehead: A little larger than "normal."
Long arms: My length of my arms (spread eagle out) is equal to the length of my body (vertically)... so no?
Hypermobile joints: No.
Vision: Very good, never worn glasses.
Motor skills: Pretty good... when I was younger I would trip over the smallest things though, so maybe it's just come with age.
Good health overall.

Anyone have any ideas about specifically what it is about our brains that make us different from NT's? Is it the wiring, or something?

I watched one documentary about AS where an expert claimed chronic loneliness is as damaging health wise as smoking a pack a day. Given my own experience with AS and the resulting loneliness, I am inclined to agree.

I don't think the studies define it, but I bet they are measuring the unhappiness of being alone. Mainstream doesn't get solitude.

"Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of being alone. It has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone (Paul Johannes Tillich)."

"I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers (Henry David Thoreau)."

There is a new body of medical research lately which has explored the question: is depression an inflammatory disease? Inflammation can be caused by many things, and can affect the whole body at once, including the brain.

Things that are bad for us - toxic substances, toxic experiences - may both have the effect of causing inflammation in the cells of the body; smoking certainly does, viruses do, and chronic loneliness affects the body negatively too: distress raises cortisol, which can trigger the inflammatory process. So the claim in the quote isn't as outlandish as it may first appear to some.

Conservative medical science is very slowly catching up with what some more holistic practitioners have been suspecting/saying for years.
Bad experiences are bad for us.

Daily exercise and food choices are also critical to controlling inflammation. Realistic (not optimistic or pessimistic) positive thinking is also huge...

Follow the money. Who makes money off of people taking control of their own health. As much as this is discussed, and modeled by avant-garde companies, societal changes are not made and post industrialized life style is harmful to our health.