Possible Cause of Autism Symptoms(New Findings)

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K-opiate receptor may be over abundant and allow more influx of endorphin effects.
Characterized by the negative symptoms of autism.

I don't think it is an overabundance of endorphins but, rather, a dysfunction of how the endorphins are handled by receptors.

When doing something stimulating only limited mu activity is reported but in a larger amount. Explaining the
The endorphins produce pleasure which obviously leads to a spiraling path through ones interest. Time cn

Activation of the misappropriated kappa receptors are indicative of the social isolation, lack of sexual drive, and dysphoria.
It is almost as if there is a paradoxical effect resembling opiate withdrawal in this activation. Perhaps the body has endo-opiate antagonists that disrupt normal function.

It's hard to focus because we only get endorphin "hits" when we are engaged in the set path of interest. Anything else activates kappa receptors and we lose focus and even become dysphoric as this receptor produces dysphoria.

Social dysfunction is also obviously resulting from bad mirror neurons.

Summary:

Autistic patients have a reduction in Mu-opiate activation in normal circumstances but an overuse of kappa receptors.

Treatment: The use of a partial opiate antagonist, or one that blocks kappa but leaves open Mu would be of great help to autistic spectrum sufferers.

Personal Insight: I have been addicted to opiates on an off for years. I have noticed that since Morphine activates mu-receptors for the most part I was diverting the endorphin supply there and thus rendering many of my issues mute. I was able to do things as others do with focus because my pleasure center, like normal people, was being affected by the subtleties of doing normal things. In essence everything became a "special interest". Although when I did start working on my special interests, psychopharmacology, the extreme flood of endorphins I received made it hard to pull myself away. I only wish there was a drug out there that could activate mu subtly as to divert the kappa flow away and allow for a stability of social interactions with the reciprocal flow of pleasure chemicals without the downsides of addiction.

It's like being addicted, because when I pull myself away from my special interest I break down and have some of the mental symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal.

Another Possible Treatment: Kratom, a plant that contains both opiate agonist and antagonists helped me in the past because it seemed to balance the pleasure center. It's less addictive and may yield results for helping those with more extreme cases.

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This study here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 0583905490
It shows that oxytocin levels are decreased by opiates and endorphins. A small dose of an opiate antagonist reversed the effects. If my hypothesis stands than giving people with autism a small dose of suboxone for instance may cause rapid increase in social behavior and even executive thinking!

Please excuse my ignorance of biochemistry but are you saying that NTs experience the same blissful feeling those with ASDs do about their special interests about EVERYTHING? How does this explain that I've noticed that many NTs seem very so-so, and happily that way, about many things?

I'm suggesting that since they have a balance of when and where they receive the appropriate pleasure center activation they are happy around people and they usually can "multi-task" their efforts with results. Where as, since we probably have a maladjusted system we only receive activation of mu receptors in larger bursts when doing few things. Someone was suggesting somewhere else that it is a simple overproduction of endorphins. But if that was the case then we'd be floaty. It has to also be the way the receptors behave. Those on the spectrum have too much or too little at the wrong time. The only "right" time is during a session like the one I'm having right now by experiencing my interests. I feel awesome.

I'm not sure about the chemestry, but this does make sense to me.

What's this? I don't have opiate withdrawal symptoms. I guess this would come up because strangely enough strong interests are what occur when somebody has a restricted social lifestyle, not because we are somehow programmed to do so.

It's my hypothesis about neurochemistry in autistic people. And by opiate withdrawal, I don't mean full blown. But there is a subtle opiate withdrawal edge to the negative aspergers symptoms like over stimulation and mood problems. I know this because I've had mild opiate withdrawals and the effects mimic times such as when I am overstimulated and sensitive to touch.

I do have AS but for whatever reason I'm able to find magic in many things, maybe because my special interests all boil down to "discovering the meaning of life" and life is all around to be contemplated?

I just know that my NT relatives have expressed upon my questioning that they're just "mehhh..." about a lot of things and that they don't see a problem with that, they see it as moderate and sane in comparison to my extreme emotional investment in most things. It seems they must get less pleasure out of everyday activities relative to Aspies but not having ever experienced this intense obsessional feeling except maybe in romantic love do not recognize it as moderate or "mehh" but just happy calm life?

NTs are naturally apathetic about life. A balance of their endophin profiles allows them to normally fluctuate between tasks with the backup of pleasure. We are bound to certain links or chains of behavior that cause release. Will itself is a result of a drive called pleasure. Why do you think, when someone is boring you with something, that you almost feel bad? I know it happens to me. I believe it's a result of K receptor activity draining those precious endorphins and causing dysphoria w/o any pleasure activation via mu. Kappa is a receptor associated with mood and dysphoria. Mu- is associated with pleasure.

Sorry for triple post but it's been discussed that the reason people stim is to effect the endorphins. It's a way of trying to calm the chaotic release of enorphins and bring them back to the mu receptor. My thoughts.

This is all making a lot of sense. Now that I think about it I don't find magic in all things, only when one of my special interests (art music languages etc) have been activated and then I see those things EVERYWHERE in the world around me.

But try to get me to clean my room or talk with interest about what so-and-so ate at such-and-such restaurant the other day and no. No motivation, the complete absence of interest, and intense sadness in fact takes over.

So other people have a moderate pleasure drive toward doing all the activities of life, ie living, and can thus engage in convos about who got what job how beautiful this person's kitchen is decorated the price of gas etc. And be content doing so. Content is the key phrase I guess. Motivated enough to do it without feeling sad.

Gotcha I think.

I feel like you've elucidated something so major it changes the way I understand things. That has been my CONSTANT question, how can other people live so happily when life is such a mundane and sad pursuit 80% of the time?

Also Ben Gibbard asks the same thing in "Bixby Canyon Bridge" when he says "cause it's hard to want to stay awake when everyone you meet they all seem to be asleep and you wonder if you're missing a dream you can't see..."

I think Ben Gibbard is a spectrumite or has the psychpharmacology/biochemistry.whatever the correct word is of one by the way. Well I guess the same or similar biochemical process would apply to any depressive.