31 Jan 2021, 11:36 am
31 Jan 2021, 3:17 pm
Mona Pereth wrote:
The following article is somewhat old news, but contains a good summary of why -- from the viewpoint of the relevant scientists -- there is now much less of a focus on searching for a "cure" than there was a decade or two ago.
Why the focus of autism research is shifting away from searching for a 'cure' by Jacqueline Stenson, NBC News, Sept. 22, 2019: "More attention is on identifying autism in children as early as possible and support for the health and well-being of autistic adults."
Excerpt:
Why the focus of autism research is shifting away from searching for a 'cure' by Jacqueline Stenson, NBC News, Sept. 22, 2019: "More attention is on identifying autism in children as early as possible and support for the health and well-being of autistic adults."
Excerpt:
Quote:
'More complicated than anyone ever thought'
When autism research started to really accelerate a couple decades ago, many scientists thought finding a cure might be easier. Today, the latest science points away from a single cure, but there are ways to help autistic people lead healthier, happier lives and more that can be done to help.
“I think that given the complexity and the variability of the causes and the manifestations of autism, trying to come up with a cure is probably not the right approach,” said autism researcher and psychologist Len Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute in Sacramento.
An estimated 80 percent of autism cases involve genetic factors, and it tends to run in families, but there is no single “autism gene,” Abbeduto explained. In fact, research has shown that more than 100 genes, and maybe upwards of 1,000, may play a role. Researchers also suspect that environmental factors — such as exposures to infectious agents, pesticides or other toxins in pregnancy — may play a role.
“Scientists are investing a lot of work into understanding the genes but we’re also realizing it’s a lot more complicated than anybody ever thought when they started out,” psychologist Ann Wagner, national autism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.
“We do know that it’s highly genetic, we just haven’t identified how particular kinds of genes might interact with each other or with other factors to cause autism spectrum disorder,” Wagner said. “Autism is such a heterogenous disorder, so it’s highly likely that there are different causes for different kinds of ASD.”
These research developments come amid growing controversy over whether autism even needs a cure. Autism Speaks, an advocacy and research group founded in 2005, removed the word “cure” from its mission statement in 2016.
“In the beginning, [researchers] were looking more for the magic bullet, the magic pill. We were looking for the autism gene, and we thought that would ultimately lead to some kind of cure of autism,” psychologist Thomas Frazier, chief science officer at Autism Speaks in New York, said. “Then we recognized that we were way off base.”
When autism research started to really accelerate a couple decades ago, many scientists thought finding a cure might be easier. Today, the latest science points away from a single cure, but there are ways to help autistic people lead healthier, happier lives and more that can be done to help.
“I think that given the complexity and the variability of the causes and the manifestations of autism, trying to come up with a cure is probably not the right approach,” said autism researcher and psychologist Len Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute in Sacramento.
An estimated 80 percent of autism cases involve genetic factors, and it tends to run in families, but there is no single “autism gene,” Abbeduto explained. In fact, research has shown that more than 100 genes, and maybe upwards of 1,000, may play a role. Researchers also suspect that environmental factors — such as exposures to infectious agents, pesticides or other toxins in pregnancy — may play a role.
“Scientists are investing a lot of work into understanding the genes but we’re also realizing it’s a lot more complicated than anybody ever thought when they started out,” psychologist Ann Wagner, national autism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.
“We do know that it’s highly genetic, we just haven’t identified how particular kinds of genes might interact with each other or with other factors to cause autism spectrum disorder,” Wagner said. “Autism is such a heterogenous disorder, so it’s highly likely that there are different causes for different kinds of ASD.”
These research developments come amid growing controversy over whether autism even needs a cure. Autism Speaks, an advocacy and research group founded in 2005, removed the word “cure” from its mission statement in 2016.
“In the beginning, [researchers] were looking more for the magic bullet, the magic pill. We were looking for the autism gene, and we thought that would ultimately lead to some kind of cure of autism,” psychologist Thomas Frazier, chief science officer at Autism Speaks in New York, said. “Then we recognized that we were way off base.”
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to ND political correctness; the target is still prevention & cures from the multiple types of autism out there.
Why do you think they spend all those millions researching something that they don’t want to prevent or cure? LOL.
Simon Baron-Cohen irritatingly does this type of thing & then drives to his lab to research autism & goes to lectures giving ideas on how to prevent or minimise autism through early intervention.
If SBC really felt that way he would resign from his job & tour the country trying to promote the joys of being disabled and unable to function like your fellow human beings, talk about a difficult sell.
The COVID-19 19 crisis will lead to trillions being spent on genetic research internationally & some of that will inevitably feed down to autism research.
Its just a matter of time of which comes first prevention of treatment. If its prevention then they`ll be less incentive to research treatments as we slowly die off & don’t get made anymore.
Also, other countries like China & the far east don’t pay any attention to this kind of nonsense & they have advanced research too. The US has been slowly declining & losing influence while other powers are overtaking & carrying on anyway.
If I was an ND advocate I would be more interested in the drift to the idea of mandatory vaccines and the loss of sovereignty over health choices. Something im very much against, not because im anti vax but the idea of forcing people to take anything is wrong.
31 Jan 2021, 3:56 pm
31 Jan 2021, 4:15 pm
Eh. I can also think of other reasons. 
But complexity is still one of them.
I can always see this scenario; so one can remove the autism; the behavioral and social crap alone even from birth.
But does that actually remove the developmental issues, learning disabilities and
internal dysregulations?
Does that actually resolved the trauma and manifested aggressions? I don't think so.
The current idea of cure, per se, may even escalate.
Given with how most modern civilizations works -- it's not even healthy for the NTs themselves.
So you turn every NDs into NTs. Then now you subject this turned NT into a hostile world. 
See if it regress or break down nonetheless, only in a more seemingly "socially acceptable way".
Who knows, the prevention can go three ways;
One that aligns with the ND paradigm that can appear holistic more towards voluntary treatment and prevention without something evasive.
One that either denies or deconstructs the current autism model and name at large.
And one that involves massive systematic change down to the environmental and societal norms while denying the right to choose.
And the logic is more obvious than ever;
If a society isn't even healthy for NTs -- from the current idea of normal involved high stress, flooded cases of anxiety to being manipulated by the algorithms and flooded cases of depression...
Even if, what, a handful of resilient NT individuals can handle and tolerate it? It doesn't even mean all NTs do and collectively.
Let alone NDs and other more vulnerable cases.
The root of the matter does lie somewhere within the current social norm.
The current status quo that creates the environmental and idea of.
31 Jan 2021, 4:26 pm
13 Feb 2021, 8:11 am
13 Feb 2021, 3:32 pm
Ettina wrote:
carlos55 wrote:
If I was an ND advocate I would be more interested in the drift to the idea of mandatory vaccines and the loss of sovereignty over health choices. Something im very much against, not because im anti vax but the idea of forcing people to take anything is wrong.
Even if not accepting the treatment puts others at risk?
Vaccinating or not doesn't just affect you. It affects the people around you, especially infants, people with immune problems, and people with medical conditions that mean they can't be vaccinated. Why should your personal autonomy trump their safety?
In Canada, if you have a serious communicable disease and refuse treatment, you can be incarcerated and forced to get treatment. This rule was put into place to limit the spread of tuberculosis, which is still a serious problem in many reservations and rural communities in northern regions.
Just as your right to swing your fist ends at someone else's face, your right to make your own health decisions should end when those decisions place others at risk.
Your comment defies logic
1. If your vaccine is so good why do you care about the likes of me, surely those who choose to be vaccinated will be protected against those who choose not to??
2. Vaccines are unlikely to work long term anyway since the virus keeps mutating. Here in the UK there’s a lot of talk of the “Kent variant”, how one of the vaccines doesn’t work as well against it (supposedly from S Africa only found because unlike other countries the UK genetically analyses every positive test) LOL Kent is a small county in a small country, what about the other 7.998 billion human population with variants from Calcutta , Manila or W Africa for example? Large chunks of the human population live with poor sanitation with practically no healthcare and the only variant being talked about is in little old Kent LOL
and they are already doubting its effectiveness. Is this obvious fact talked about in the media - NO3. We are not talking about “infected people” or “tuberculosis” but healthy people who have the right to walk the earth without being forced to take something experimental
4. Unlike other vaccines that have undergone rigorous testing over the course of a decade or more, the first human took the first COVID-19 vaccine less than a year ago. Somehow not dropping down dead after a few months means something is “safe” according to the media. Does it cause cancer after 5 years? Or some other horrible medical disability no one can honestly know because not enough time has passed.
5. If your 80 with emphysema and there’s a virus that has a 20% chance of killing you then by all means the risk / benefit ratio favours taking the vaccine. But logic suggests vaccinating 8 billion people including 20-year-olds with a 99.99% survival rate, with something that changes how their body works even in a small way is criminal recklessness. The fact that these obvious questions that anyone of average intelligence would raise are not being asked in open in the media leads me not to trust them.
6. Finally, you funny comment “Just as your right to swing your fist ends at someone else's face” on the same day as you said in another thread (link below) “If a cure ever is found, it almost certainly will be forced on non-consenting people.”
Ever heard the saying “live by the sword die by it” or “what goes around comes around”.
Maybe one day someone will tell autistic people “your right to be autistic ends when someone has to look after you” or “pay for you via welfare” or “pay for accommodations for your choice” because you like how you are & you don’t want to change and take the future treatment that’s offered. Be careful what you wish for…
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=352218&p=8716573#p8716573
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,470
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
13 Feb 2021, 3:55 pm
carlos55 wrote:
Mona Pereth wrote:
The following article is somewhat old news, but contains a good summary of why -- from the viewpoint of the relevant scientists -- there is now much less of a focus on searching for a "cure" than there was a decade or two ago.
Why the focus of autism research is shifting away from searching for a 'cure' by Jacqueline Stenson, NBC News, Sept. 22, 2019: "More attention is on identifying autism in children as early as possible and support for the health and well-being of autistic adults."
Excerpt:
Why the focus of autism research is shifting away from searching for a 'cure' by Jacqueline Stenson, NBC News, Sept. 22, 2019: "More attention is on identifying autism in children as early as possible and support for the health and well-being of autistic adults."
Excerpt:
Quote:
'More complicated than anyone ever thought'
When autism research started to really accelerate a couple decades ago, many scientists thought finding a cure might be easier. Today, the latest science points away from a single cure, but there are ways to help autistic people lead healthier, happier lives and more that can be done to help.
“I think that given the complexity and the variability of the causes and the manifestations of autism, trying to come up with a cure is probably not the right approach,” said autism researcher and psychologist Len Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute in Sacramento.
An estimated 80 percent of autism cases involve genetic factors, and it tends to run in families, but there is no single “autism gene,” Abbeduto explained. In fact, research has shown that more than 100 genes, and maybe upwards of 1,000, may play a role. Researchers also suspect that environmental factors — such as exposures to infectious agents, pesticides or other toxins in pregnancy — may play a role.
“Scientists are investing a lot of work into understanding the genes but we’re also realizing it’s a lot more complicated than anybody ever thought when they started out,” psychologist Ann Wagner, national autism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.
“We do know that it’s highly genetic, we just haven’t identified how particular kinds of genes might interact with each other or with other factors to cause autism spectrum disorder,” Wagner said. “Autism is such a heterogenous disorder, so it’s highly likely that there are different causes for different kinds of ASD.”
These research developments come amid growing controversy over whether autism even needs a cure. Autism Speaks, an advocacy and research group founded in 2005, removed the word “cure” from its mission statement in 2016.
“In the beginning, [researchers] were looking more for the magic bullet, the magic pill. We were looking for the autism gene, and we thought that would ultimately lead to some kind of cure of autism,” psychologist Thomas Frazier, chief science officer at Autism Speaks in New York, said. “Then we recognized that we were way off base.”
When autism research started to really accelerate a couple decades ago, many scientists thought finding a cure might be easier. Today, the latest science points away from a single cure, but there are ways to help autistic people lead healthier, happier lives and more that can be done to help.
“I think that given the complexity and the variability of the causes and the manifestations of autism, trying to come up with a cure is probably not the right approach,” said autism researcher and psychologist Len Abbeduto, director of the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute in Sacramento.
An estimated 80 percent of autism cases involve genetic factors, and it tends to run in families, but there is no single “autism gene,” Abbeduto explained. In fact, research has shown that more than 100 genes, and maybe upwards of 1,000, may play a role. Researchers also suspect that environmental factors — such as exposures to infectious agents, pesticides or other toxins in pregnancy — may play a role.
“Scientists are investing a lot of work into understanding the genes but we’re also realizing it’s a lot more complicated than anybody ever thought when they started out,” psychologist Ann Wagner, national autism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.
“We do know that it’s highly genetic, we just haven’t identified how particular kinds of genes might interact with each other or with other factors to cause autism spectrum disorder,” Wagner said. “Autism is such a heterogenous disorder, so it’s highly likely that there are different causes for different kinds of ASD.”
These research developments come amid growing controversy over whether autism even needs a cure. Autism Speaks, an advocacy and research group founded in 2005, removed the word “cure” from its mission statement in 2016.
“In the beginning, [researchers] were looking more for the magic bullet, the magic pill. We were looking for the autism gene, and we thought that would ultimately lead to some kind of cure of autism,” psychologist Thomas Frazier, chief science officer at Autism Speaks in New York, said. “Then we recognized that we were way off base.”
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to ND political correctness; the target is still prevention & cures from the multiple types of autism out there.
Why do you think they spend all those millions researching something that they don’t want to prevent or cure? LOL.
Simon Baron-Cohen irritatingly does this type of thing & then drives to his lab to research autism & goes to lectures giving ideas on how to prevent or minimise autism through early intervention.
If SBC really felt that way he would resign from his job & tour the country trying to promote the joys of being disabled and unable to function like your fellow human beings, talk about a difficult sell.
The COVID-19 19 crisis will lead to trillions being spent on genetic research internationally & some of that will inevitably feed down to autism research.
Its just a matter of time of which comes first prevention of treatment. If its prevention then they`ll be less incentive to research treatments as we slowly die off & don’t get made anymore.
Also, other countries like China & the far east don’t pay any attention to this kind of nonsense & they have advanced research too. The US has been slowly declining & losing influence while other powers are overtaking & carrying on anyway.
If I was an ND advocate I would be more interested in the drift to the idea of mandatory vaccines and the loss of sovereignty over health choices. Something im very much against, not because im anti vax but the idea of forcing people to take anything is wrong.
How would promoting the idea people shouldn't have to get vaccines help autistic people exactly? People should get their vaccines not doing so puts people at risk particularly people who have legitimate medical reasons they cannot get them those people depend on the rest of us to do our part.
Also sounds like they are doing research to find out more how to help autistic people I don't think they would put that out and have a secret actual goal of still focusing on a cure, what would be the point of that?
13 Feb 2021, 4:19 pm
carlos55 wrote:
Ettina wrote:
carlos55 wrote:
If I was an ND advocate I would be more interested in the drift to the idea of mandatory vaccines and the loss of sovereignty over health choices. Something im very much against, not because im anti vax but the idea of forcing people to take anything is wrong.
Even if not accepting the treatment puts others at risk?
Vaccinating or not doesn't just affect you. It affects the people around you, especially infants, people with immune problems, and people with medical conditions that mean they can't be vaccinated. Why should your personal autonomy trump their safety?
In Canada, if you have a serious communicable disease and refuse treatment, you can be incarcerated and forced to get treatment. This rule was put into place to limit the spread of tuberculosis, which is still a serious problem in many reservations and rural communities in northern regions.
Just as your right to swing your fist ends at someone else's face, your right to make your own health decisions should end when those decisions place others at risk.
Your comment defies logic
1. If your vaccine is so good why do you care about the likes of me, surely those who choose to be vaccinated will be protected against those who choose not to??
Not really. You need a certain percentage of the population vaccinated to create herd immunity. For example, when measles vaccination dropped because of vaccination hesitancy by anti-vaxxers, there were outbreaks of measles again. And a number of people died.
Quote:
2. Vaccines are unlikely to work long term anyway since the virus keeps mutating. Here in the UK there’s a lot of talk of the “Kent variant”, how one of the vaccines doesn’t work as well against it (supposedly from S Africa only found because unlike other countries the UK genetically analyses every positive test) LOL Kent is a small county in a small country, what about the other 7.998 billion human population with variants from Calcutta , Manila or W Africa for example? Large chunks of the human population live with poor sanitation with practically no healthcare and the only variant being talked about is in little old Kent LOL and they are already doubting its effectiveness. Is this obvious fact talked about in the media - NO
and they are already doubting its effectiveness. Is this obvious fact talked about in the media - NOThe protection from vaccines is not forever, which is why you need to get vaccinated based on a schedule. Just like pain killers and anti-biotics don't work forever. You won't take a medicine because it is temporary?
Quote:
3. We are not talking about “infected people” or “tuberculosis” but healthy people who have the right to walk the earth without being forced to take something experimental
Agreed. But this vaccine has been tested. The vaccine is design to protect healthy people from becoming unhealthy. Last year in the US, COVID was the leading cause of death, even higher than all cancers. It has been a very long time since a virus has even made that list.
Quote:
4. Unlike other vaccines that have undergone rigorous testing over the course of a decade or more, the first human took the first COVID-19 vaccine less than a year ago. Somehow not dropping down dead after a few months means something is “safe” according to the media. Does it cause cancer after 5 years? Or some other horrible medical disability no one can honestly know because not enough time has passed.
Illogical argument. There is a huge volume of evidence to understand the risks of a vaccine. Just because a vaccine targets a new variant of a known virus type does not mean the risks are unknown. The vaccines has already been trough trials and is not experimental. The risks of COIVD are also known. Opting for a speculative risk over a known risk is not logical.
Quote:
5. If your 80 with emphysema and there’s a virus that has a 20% chance of killing you then by all means the risk / benefit ratio favours taking the vaccine. But logic suggests vaccinating 8 billion people including 20-year-olds with a 99.99% survival rate, with something that changes how their body works even in a small way is criminal recklessness. The fact that these obvious questions that anyone of average intelligence would raise are not being asked in open in the media leads me not to trust them.
Not logical. First, there is huge benefits from herd immunity. So vaccinating the population is not only a standard practice in immunology, it also makes the vaccination program effective. Individual survival rate is on average. It might not apply to you. But there are other negative outcomes than death. People have had debilitating conditions from this virus.
Quote:
6. Finally, you funny comment “Just as your right to swing your fist ends at someone else's face” on the same day as you said in another thread (link below) “If a cure ever is found, it almost certainly will be forced on non-consenting people.”
Ever heard the saying “live by the sword die by it” or “what goes around comes around”.
Maybe one day someone will tell autistic people “your right to be autistic ends when someone has to look after you” or “pay for you via welfare” or “pay for accommodations for your choice” because you like how you are & you don’t want to change and take the future treatment that’s offered. Be careful what you wish for…
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=352218&p=8716573#p8716573
Ever heard the saying “live by the sword die by it” or “what goes around comes around”.
Maybe one day someone will tell autistic people “your right to be autistic ends when someone has to look after you” or “pay for you via welfare” or “pay for accommodations for your choice” because you like how you are & you don’t want to change and take the future treatment that’s offered. Be careful what you wish for…
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=352218&p=8716573#p8716573
This is a question about the rights and responsibilities of the individual and collective. You can simply free ride off the collective, but that does not make a lot of sense in a pandemic where collective action is required to control the infection. Ultimately, it does not matter if you don't get vaccinated personally, but if million think like you, then we are in a never-ending situation. The longer the virus is in the population, the more time it has to mutate.
You have a right to seek a medical intervention or not. However, anti-vax arguments to justify a position are going to result in a lot of harm. I am going to get vaccinated not just because it gives me a level of protection, but it also protects those around me. I am hoping those around me can show the same consideration, although I am sure not all will. I just hope there is enough to bring COVID under control. Kinda getting tired of the whole mask thing...
13 Feb 2021, 8:21 pm
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,470
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
13 Feb 2021, 8:41 pm
13 Feb 2021, 8:51 pm
Sweetleaf
Veteran
Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Female
Posts: 34,470
Location: Somewhere in Colorado
13 Feb 2021, 9:22 pm
14 Feb 2021, 11:21 am
14 Feb 2021, 12:37 pm
14 Feb 2021, 1:27 pm
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