O.T.: Autism symptoms reversed in lab

[space-time]

There is some good news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6245742.stm

[stephen]

I have dear friends who have just gotten the diagnosis for their son. Thanks for the link.

[michaelb]

I am not an expert, but I think causality for autism is very complex, multi factor, and little understood currently. It may be more accurate to say "fragile X" syndrome in mice reversed in a lab.

In the little autism work I have done/seen, I hadn't really seen anyone talking about a chromosonal defect as the cause.

[prof]

I'll be a lot more encouraged if they can transfer this progress to humans.
Who knew dogs be autistic?????

[ka jowct]

There was a good article about autism in a recent issue of Discovery magazine. It appears likely that environmental factors are involved in addition to whatever else triggers it. Well worth reading.

[davec]

[quote michaelb]I am not an expert, but I think causality for autism is very complex, multi factor, and little understood currently.

michaelb- well said. I work closely with a team that evaluates students within the autism spectrum and have found there are a lot of theories, a good bit of "snake oil", and not a lot of research based conclusions.

Dave

[Jp!]

My friend/ex-roomie, has 4 of 5 of his children with Autism.