[olePigeon]

BBC NEWS | Health | Autism symptoms reversed in lab

Wow! Personally, I think this is great.

*snipped remark*

It's pretty amazing. I know they're learning all sorts of things about the chomosomes, what each pair does and how the code contained in it affects people. There's a related story (if I can find it) about which chromosome controls the chemicals and proteins that affect aging in a person. They have mice living to the human equivelent of 200 years.

[Dakarʒ]

Sounds good. Awesome derail in the OP.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

This is excellent news. And for those who like to bash medicine in America, note where the discovery occurred please.

BBC News?

[Big Mac]

This is excellent news. And for those who like to bash medicine in America, note where the discovery occurred please.

As for religious people not wanting a cure for a terrible disease, such a view could only be applied to the most fundamental of fundamentalist Christian sects, AFAIK. Most people of faith believe we were put on this earth to grow, discover and achieve, and as long as science doesn't cross bright lines of morality there's no reason not to strive for bigger and better things.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

BBC NEWS | Health | Autism symptoms reversed in lab

Wow! Personally, I think this is great.

I hope it has practical applications beyond lab mice.

If autism can be stopped, let alone cured in existing cases, this would be the medical advance of the century!

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

My question is how many people would go along with it. I'd imagine that there are quite a few people who'd think it's God's will for their child to be retarded and grow up with so many difficulties. I hope people can get past that and realize that a mutated X chromosome can be treated and help someone live a better life.

"Quite a few people"?!?! I can think of a single group. And even they are not 100% opposed to medical advances.

[andi*pandi]

this is good news indeed, since the rates of autism are rising.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

this is good news indeed, since the rates of autism are rising.

I don't know that the "rate of autism is rising" so much as the definitions of autism were broadened to include more cases. Autism is a relatively newly defined condition.

[andi*pandi]

well, new compared to polio or cancer, but... anyway...

here's one of the articles I remember reading about this. The increase I mean is in the last 10 years. There are also those who think that the preservative used in the recent batches of infant immunizations is linked to an increase.

Wired 9.12: The Geek Syndrome

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

well, new compared to polio or cancer, but... anyway...

here's one of the articles I remember reading about this. The increase I mean is in the last 10 years. There are also those who think that the preservative used in the recent batches of infant immunizations is linked to an increase.

Wired 9.12: The Geek Syndrome

Wired tends to be a bit of a sensationalism news source.

From your linked article:

It's not easy to arrive at a clear picture of whether there actually is a startling rise in the incidence of autism in California, as opposed to just an increase in diagnoses. One problem, says Linda Lotspeich, director of the Stanford Pervasive Developmental Disorders Clinic, is that "the rules in the DSM-IV don't work." The diagnostic criteria are subjective, like "Marked impairment in the use of nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction."

"How much 'eye-to-eye gaze' do you have to have to be normal?" asks Lotspeich. "How do you define what 'marked' is? In shades of gray, when does black become white?"

Some children will receive a diagnosis of classic autism, and another diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome, from two different clinicians. Tony Attwood's advice to parents is strictly practical: "Use the diagnosis that provides the services."

The bolded text highlights part of the problem. Some school districts will encourage a child to be labeled with Autism or Asperger's because it means more money for the district.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

I don't know that the "rate of autism is rising" so much as the definitions of autism were broadened to include more cases. Autism is a relatively newly defined condition.

From a professional standpoint, even with a relatively recent definition of the condition, autism rates ARE increasing, and this cannot be laid entirely at better diagnostics or more attentiveness to symptoms. Unlike Attention Deficit, which is being diagnosed more frequently to some extent because of better awareness, it is less likely that the more profound symptoms of autism are simply being noticed more often. In the span of the last 25 years or so, autism rates have accelerated beyond what can be answered simply. In fact there have been a number of studies that applied more modern criteria to the symptoms in medical records, and the "new definition diagnosis" rate was fairly small, though not trivial.

[Rev-O]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

There are also those who think that the preservative used in the recent batches of infant immunizations is linked to an increase.

Just like there are those who clearly do not see a link. I do not have a dog in this fight, so [i[please[/i] take the link at face value. I'm not trying to move forward an agenda.

At any rate, this article is great news!

[gradient]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

And for those who like to bash medicine in America, note where the discovery occurred please.

Few people bash the medicine in the US, aside from its pervasiveness and the way it is marketed. Most are bashing the medical system.

The link between the the amount of $$ a country spends on medical research and the quality of their health care is tenuous at best.

[voodoo]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

This is excellent news. And for those who like to bash medicine in America, note where the discovery occurred please.

I can only assume you have Tourrette or ADD.. there can be no other explaination.

V

[BRussell]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

From a professional standpoint, even with a relatively recent definition of the condition, autism rates ARE increasing, and this cannot be laid entirely at better diagnostics or more attentiveness to symptoms. Unlike Attention Deficit, which is being diagnosed more frequently to some extent because of better awareness, it is less likely that the more profound symptoms of autism are simply being noticed more often. In the span of the last 25 years or so, autism rates have accelerated beyond what can be answered simply. In fact there have been a number of studies that applied more modern criteria to the symptoms in medical records, and the "new definition diagnosis" rate was fairly small, though not trivial.

Really? I haven't looked into this stuff in a bit, but everything I remember is that the best studies are consistent with what Railroader said.

And they've also ruled out the immunizations as a cause.

[Kerrigan]

Mice must be some pretty lucky mother****ers. Scientists have developed cures for just about every mouse ailment there is: cancer, autism, homosexuality, alzheimer's, etc. I'm surprised scientists aren't devoting more time to curing human diseases, but it's good to see that mice can live long, healthy lives.

[climber]

humans are not quite as content to live in 12 inch cages.