Article - Scientists May Have Discovered the Cause of Autism

Page 1 of 1 [ 14 posts ] 

Brian0787
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 19 Aug 2024
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 606
Location: Pennsylvania, United States

24 Aug 2024, 11:27 am

Hi, All. I seen this article Newsweek put out about three weeks ago and thought I would share. I think it's kind of interesting that they mention the umbilical cord as I know in my case when I was born my mom's umbilical cord became detached and I had to be removed via emergency c-section. Just thought it was interesting. I don't think it explains quite everything but it's interesting research and hypothesis they have. They have much more work yet to do.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/scientists-may-have-discovered-the-cause-of-autism/ar-BB1qUiEW?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=043c13814b8e42e4a812e7a46d8a0868&ei=34


_________________
"In this galaxy, there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that, and perhaps more...only one of each of us. Don’t destroy the one named Kirk." - Dr. Leonard McCoy, "Balance of Terror", Star Trek: The Original Series.


CockneyRebel
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Posts: 116,959
Location: In my little Olympic World of peace and love

24 Aug 2024, 7:49 pm

What does the article mean in plain English?


_________________
The Family Enigma


Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,857
Location: Stendec

24 Aug 2024, 11:44 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
What does the article mean in plain English?
I'm not sure, but it is either "Mountain Made from Molehill", "Much Ado About Nothing", or "Tempest Discovered in Teapot".


_________________
 
The previous signature line has been cancelled.


JamesW
Deinonychus
Deinonychus

Joined: 26 Jan 2023
Gender: Male
Posts: 358

25 Aug 2024, 4:04 pm

Funnily enough, the thing that annoyed me most about the article is not the content, which is the sort of stuff I seem to have become inured to by now.

It was that Microsoft wrapped the link to steal the web traffic from the actual source.



funeralxempire
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 40
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 29,339
Location: Right over your left shoulder

25 Aug 2024, 4:31 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
What does the article mean in plain English?


Quote:
The study’s most provocative finding was that one particular compound, called 11,12-diHETrE, seemed to have the strongest connection to autism symptoms. Higher levels of this compound were linked to more difficulties with social interaction and communication, which are hallmark features of autism. Conversely, lower levels of another compound, 8,9-diHETrE, were associated with more repetitive and restrictive behaviors, another key characteristic of ASD.


https://studyfinds.org/new-clue-in-auti ... ld-be-key/

The study means the levels of those two diHETrEs might be relevant to understanding a cause of some symptoms in at least some autistic people. It's also possible those levels being off might be because one has autism, correlation doesn't mean one factor is the cause of the other.

The link I've included explains the study a bit more clearly than the MSN article. Scroll down to Paper Summary.


_________________
I was ashamed of myself when I realised life was a costume party and I attended with my real face
"Many of us like to ask ourselves, What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now." —Former U.S. Airman (Air Force) Aaron Bushnell


lostonearth35
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Jan 2010
Age: 50
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,722
Location: Lost on Earth, waddya think?

25 Aug 2024, 4:44 pm

Wake me when scientists discover the cure for autismophobia, like that'll ever happen.



Brian0787
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 19 Aug 2024
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 606
Location: Pennsylvania, United States

27 Aug 2024, 1:09 am

funeralxempire wrote:
CockneyRebel wrote:
What does the article mean in plain English?


Quote:
The study’s most provocative finding was that one particular compound, called 11,12-diHETrE, seemed to have the strongest connection to autism symptoms. Higher levels of this compound were linked to more difficulties with social interaction and communication, which are hallmark features of autism. Conversely, lower levels of another compound, 8,9-diHETrE, were associated with more repetitive and restrictive behaviors, another key characteristic of ASD.


https://studyfinds.org/new-clue-in-auti ... ld-be-key/

The study means the levels of those two diHETrEs might be relevant to understanding a cause of some symptoms in at least some autistic people. It's also possible those levels being off might be because one has autism, correlation doesn't mean one factor is the cause of the other.

The link I've included explains the study a bit more clearly than the MSN article. Scroll down to Paper Summary.


Thank you for sharing the studyfinds link. I agree with you too that correlation does not equal causation. They have more research to do.


_________________
"In this galaxy, there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that, and perhaps more...only one of each of us. Don’t destroy the one named Kirk." - Dr. Leonard McCoy, "Balance of Terror", Star Trek: The Original Series.


kokopelli
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Nov 2017
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,877
Location: amid the sunlight and the dust and the wind

07 Nov 2024, 7:03 pm

I'm always suspicious when anyone claims that they have found "the cause" of anything.


_________________
[email protected]


kokopelli
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Nov 2017
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,877
Location: amid the sunlight and the dust and the wind

07 Nov 2024, 7:18 pm

There is one way to reduce Autism. Go back to cloth diapers.

After all, we started shifting from cloth diapers to disposable diapers and the result is that Autism is diagnosed more and more. It has to be the disposable diapers doing it.

Yeah, nobody in their right mind would believe that, but it makes as much sense as most of the other "this causes that" nonsense.


_________________
[email protected]


Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,857
Location: Stendec

07 Nov 2024, 7:45 pm

kokopelli wrote:
There is one way to reduce Autism. Go back to cloth diapers.

After all, we started shifting from cloth diapers to disposable diapers and the result is that Autism is diagnosed more and more. It has to be the disposable diapers doing it.

Yeah, nobody in their right mind would believe that, but it makes as much sense as most of the other "this causes that" nonsense.

[sarcasm]

But haven't you noticed that as chocolate became more readily available, diagnoses of autism did too?

And with the recent decline in cacao production, you may expect to see an eventual decline in autism diagnoses as well!

It's twoo!  It's twoo!

[/sarcasm]



Aspiegaming
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 11 Sep 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,599
Location: Hagerstown, MD

08 Nov 2024, 3:28 am

Is there no "cause of autism" more unique than what most people been through?

I was born through C-Section and I've been vaccinated as an infant. It's pure coincidence that I have ASD. I'm willing to bet that there are lots of other people who've been through the same thing and don't have autism.

I need something more concrete that explains how somewhere along the way I got my brain rewired differently and no one else has been through it except us. Something that finally explains how some people develop autism and others don't.


_________________
I am sick, and in so being I am the healthy one.

If my darkness or eccentricness offends you, I don't really care.

I will not apologize for being me.


funeralxempire
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Oct 2014
Age: 40
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 29,339
Location: Right over your left shoulder

08 Nov 2024, 3:35 am

kokopelli wrote:
I'm always suspicious when anyone claims that they have found "the cause" of anything.


It's best to understand this is a cause not the cause.

Understanding this as the cause is a stupid oversimplification, but so are the kneejerk attempts to dismiss it that some posters who lack scientific literacy have engaged in.


_________________
I was ashamed of myself when I realised life was a costume party and I attended with my real face
"Many of us like to ask ourselves, What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now." —Former U.S. Airman (Air Force) Aaron Bushnell


Gentleman Argentum
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 24 Aug 2019
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Posts: 872
Location: State of Euphoria

08 Nov 2024, 5:52 am

Brian0787 wrote:
Hi, All. I seen this article Newsweek put out about three weeks ago and thought I would share. I think it's kind of interesting that they mention the umbilical cord as I know in my case when I was born my mom's umbilical cord became detached and I had to be removed via emergency c-section. Just thought it was interesting. I don't think it explains quite everything but it's interesting research and hypothesis they have. They have much more work yet to do.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/scientists-may-have-discovered-the-cause-of-autism/ar-BB1qUiEW?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=043c13814b8e42e4a812e7a46d8a0868&ei=34


My brother and I both were removed via C-section. In the past, C-section was seldom used, thus it would explain why so much increase in autism in the West. C-section is very common in the United States, less so overseas.

I found this paragraph confusing:
"Specifically, the authors found that higher levels of diHETrE were associated with difficulties in social interactions, while low levels were linked to repetitive and restrictive behaviors in children. Notably, this correlation was more pronounced in girls than in boys."

I take it to mean that diHETrE levels must be just right, neither too high nor too low.

It is just a study and does not mean that this is "it." However, it is interesting. I would like to know how many people with autism, and then with high-functioning autism, experienced C-section delivery. If the result is high, then that is certainly a smoking gun. Perhaps we should do a poll here on Wrong Planet?


_________________
My magical motto is Animus facit nobilem. I like to read fantasy and weird fiction. Just a few of my favorite online things: music, chess, and dungeon crawl stone soup.


kokopelli
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 27 Nov 2017
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,877
Location: amid the sunlight and the dust and the wind

08 Nov 2024, 2:59 pm

funeralxempire wrote:
kokopelli wrote:
I'm always suspicious when anyone claims that they have found "the cause" of anything.


It's best to understand this is a cause not the cause.

Understanding this as the cause is a stupid oversimplification, but so are the kneejerk attempts to dismiss it that some posters who lack scientific literacy have engaged in.


Yes.

I have a MAGA relative who believes that "the cause" of thyroid issues is water fluoridation.

Yeah, high levels of fluorides can apparently cause thyroid, but it is not a common cause. Yet, he believes that there can only be one cause and it is fluoridation.

We see this mindset all the time by people who are more interested in pushing an agenda than in understanding the issue.


_________________
[email protected]