Autism acceptance – false dichotomies and the damage done
When discussing autism—especially on the internet and in the media—there are way too many people who recklessly engage in false dichotomy. It’s a kind of extremism that gets us nowhere…I can say with 100% certainty that while I seek treatments for my child with autism, my acceptance of him is unconditional.
What is wrong with The Labour Party’s “Autism Neurodiversity Manifesto” and autism identity politics?
Recently in the UK, a “Neurodiversity Manifesto” has been shared by the Labour Party. It has five key principles, each of them lacking in nuance, unreflective of the lived experiences, and ignoring research data.
Century-old drug offers new hope for autism treatment
A small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows dramatic effects of suramin as a treatment for autism. Improvements were seen in all three core features of autism: language, social interactions, and restricted or repetitive behaviours across multiple diagnostics in multiple tests in all who received the active treatments, absent in the placebo arm
Higher rates of autism in children with various congenital disorders
Children with Congenital Heart Disease, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 suffer high rates of autism. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor with strong neuro-inflammation attenuating effects, reduces core autism symptoms in some children with TSC, epilepsy and autism…
Diuretic drug improves core autism symptoms
Double-blind randomized multicenter trial finds bumetanide ameliorates core symptoms of autism. A medical drug normally used to relieve fluid retention has been repurposed as a treatment for the core symptoms of autism. Following on from the promising results of their...
ACTH therapy benefits stuttering and autism
Adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy in patients with nighttime subclinical seizure activity improves their stuttering and autism symptoms ACTH therapy improves core symptoms of autism alongside EEG parameters and sublinical seizures. In a retrospective study a total...
Autistic regression linked to autoimmunity
Autistic regression is a phenomenon where a previously normally developing child loses developmental milestones and previously acquired language and social skills, and regresses into autism. Symptoms such as fever, vomiting, incessant crying, irritability, changes in sleep patterns and emergence of motor abnormalities are frequently noted around the time of autistic regression…
Combined nutritional & dietary intervention effective at improving autism symptoms
Results of latest 12 month scientific study led by Prof Adams from Arizona State University suggest that a comprehensive nutritional protocol is both safe and effective at improving nutritional status, intellectual ability and autism symptoms in most individuals with autism
Autism Action Month: 12-month autism research recap 2018
We chose to call April Autism Action month, in large part because there is plenty of general awareness. Given the skyrocketing rates, it’s difficult to find an adult who doesn’t know a child with autism. However, there ought to be vast improvements when it comes to autism research awareness. With that in mind, below is our quick overview of important autism research (action!) from the past 12 months.