Actually, it is very relevant as one's definition, perception and experience of what autism is, is relevant to how one may perceive and define "a cure for autism".
If the issue was only based on an analysis of the specific research projects that are actually being done, without the word cure associated with the specific research that is being done, the perception of the research could be different, although the existing and planned specific research projects would still be directed at the same existing specific goals, per each research project.
There is no specific research that has been peer reviewed and accepted into journals, that attempts to suggest or provide a result that indicates there is the potential for one definitive cure for autism spectrum disorders, as that seems to be how you personally perceive and define the phrase "a cure for autism".
Provided what appears to be your personal definition of the phrase "a cure for autism", that is part of the problem of resolving the topic question that you pejoratively describe, as currently there are no reputable research scientists or autism organizations that fund research that are suggesting there is one definitive cure for all autism spectrum disorders. The reputable professionals dedicated to the search for a cure for autism, if they even use that phrase, describe it as an extremely complex process with the potential of a myriad of answers for a myriad of issues related to the entire autism spectrum and associated co-morbid conditions.
The question of if there is the potential of one definitive cure for all autism spectrum disorders, was answered years ago as the number of potential causal factors were determined as myriad. So, effectively it is not possible that the phrase "a cure for autism" can possibly be defined by reputable professionals in the field of autism research as one definitive cure for all autism spectrum disorders.
And it is also why there is no serious discussion among any reputable scientists or Autism Organizations that fund research, that there is a likley probability for one definitive cause or group of causes that can be used in a definitive prenatal or postnatal test to scan for all autism spectrum disorders. The potential to scan for an elevated risk, is all that is currently anticipated as probable.
The current leading autism research organization in the world working toward the development of a prenatal screening test for Autism, in Australia, as reported by the scientist that leads that research, Andrew Whitehouse, discusses that in the quote below linked here:
http://m.smh.com.au/national/health/prenatal-autism-test-may-deliver-ethical-questions-20120827-24wok.html
Quote:
Andrew Whitehouse, who heads the autism and related disorders program at the Telethon Institute of Child Health Research in Perth, said there would probably never be a cast-iron diagnostic test during pregnancy for autism like those available for Down syndrome. Instead, a test would only point to an elevated risk of autism, but some people might still use it to decide whether to continue a pregnancy.
The idea that there is a significant possibility of one definitive prenatal test for all autism spectrum disorders, or the idea that there is the signficant possibility of one definitive cure for all Autism Spectrum Disorders, is not an idea that is currently intended and promoted by any reputable autism advocacy organization or reputable Autism research scientist.
The discussion of any significant probability or fear of significant probability of one definitive cure or definitive prenatal test for all autism spectrum disorders, is coming from outside of the arena of reputable research scientists and advocacy organizations. It is not something that one should take seriously if one hears a rumor like this spread across the internet, as there is no evidence at this point a significant probability exists.
28 Aug 2012, 7:02 pm
