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Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

uclahealth.org

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Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#11

Post by f6v »

Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

> If it was possible to fully trust that a hypothetical "cure" would only be used in these severe cases

Isn’t it like the Ozempic? Some take it, some don’t.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#12

Post by applfanboysbgon »

f6v wrote: post #11
Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

> If it was possible to fully trust that a hypothetical "cure" would only be used in these severe cases Isn’t it like the Ozempic? Some take it, some don’t.

They have a valid concern. Unlike obesity, people with anything regarded as an intellectual disability are liable to have other people attempting to make decisions on their behalf, denying them agency over their own treatment, and legal systems will often enforce this denial of agency.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#13

Post by RobotToaster »

SoMomentary wrote: post #10
onesandofgrain wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cycling is possible

Doesn't the "potential for toxicity from repeated doses" make this sort of doubtful?

Possibly, possibly not.

Bryan Johnson took it for 5 years in an attempt to slow aging. He eventually discontinued because it was causing an increase in skin infections (as you'd expect from an immune system suppressant), but cycling could mitigate that.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#14

Post by dns_snek »

Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

I see this sentiment often, but only when it comes to autism. How is this different from other disorders, disabilities, illnesses?

You could make the exact same arguments for blindness. Every day is challenging, difficulties are mostly a consequence of how we've structured society, it's other people who should accommodate those who have different needs, etc.

This narrative seems to originate from, and is perpetuated within online autism communities. I think it's great that people feel content with the way they are but I don't understand the animosity towards a mere suggestion that a cure should exist.

I'm familiar with the history behind it and I'm on high alert when someone ventures into eugenics, however I firmly believe that we should be looking for a cure, just like we do for every other illness and disorder.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#15

Post by saidnooneever »

Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

i liken it to ADHD medicine. if you give it early in life then people often end up using it and benefitting from it. Later life diagnoses see people not take the medicine because their condition has become their person and changing that feels like it changes them too much from themselves.

Ultimately its all about being able to manage your life. If you run into troubles due to some condition it can cause to want a drug for it, but if you can manage often it can feels wrong to take it.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#17

Post by dns_snek »

saidnooneever wrote: post #15
Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

i liken it to ADHD medicine. if you give it early in life then people often end up using it and benefitting from it. Later life diagnoses see people not take the medicine because their condition has become their person and changing that feels like it changes them too much from themselves. Ultimately its all about being able to manage your life. If you run into troubles due to some condition it can cause to want a dru…

> Later life diagnoses see people not take the medicine because their condition has become their person and changing that feels like it changes them too much from themselves.

I also see this sentiment frequently but as someone who was diagnosed later in life I couldn't relate to it less. The scattered brain has lead me down some interesting (and fruitful) paths I wouldn't have explored otherwise, but 95% of the time it just distracts me from goals that are actually meaningful to me in the long term, and adds social friction and conflict.

I'd like to see someone study why there's such a stark difference in how people perceive it. Stimulant medication, good sleep, physical activity all help somewhat but they just take it down a notch. There are some aspects where they help a lot and others where they barely make a difference.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#18

Post by jimnotgym »

dns_snek wrote: post #14
Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

I see this sentiment often, but only when it comes to autism. How is this different from other disorders, disabilities, illnesses? You could make the exact same arguments for blindness. Every day is challenging, difficulties are mostly a consequence of how we've structured society, it's other people who should accommodate those who have different needs, etc. This narrative seems to originate from, and is perpetuated…

Because many autistic people have superpowers in some areas, like systems thinking, thinking outside the box and maybe suprisingly reading people.

If you had a superpower, but it came with a curse, that you couldn't always get to work on time, would you trade it in for a normal life?

On the other hand, i don't see why a company wouldn't accommodate someone's minor quirks to get access to a superpower.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#19

Post by ssl-3 »

dns_snek wrote: post #14
Scandiravian wrote: post #8

Being autistic myself, I feel conflicted about trying to "cure autism" Every day is challenging because I have to manage my energy, mask in social situations and at work, etc On the other hand, I like who I am and I'm also very good at what I do because my brain is structured the way it is. I can imagine a society that is structured in a way, where I don't need the accommodations I'm currently dependent on If the neg…

I see this sentiment often, but only when it comes to autism. How is this different from other disorders, disabilities, illnesses? You could make the exact same arguments for blindness. Every day is challenging, difficulties are mostly a consequence of how we've structured society, it's other people who should accommodate those who have different needs, etc. This narrative seems to originate from, and is perpetuated…

> I see this sentiment often, but only when it comes to autism. How is this different from other disorders, disabilities, illnesses?

These are not equivalent, synonymous terms. I think that your premise might need some work.

There's plenty of people in the world who are healthy, autistic, and not disabled at all.

Re: Drug reverses autism-like brain changes in adult mice within hours

#20

Post by stonyrubbish »

I have ASD Level 1, and I definitely don't want to be "cured." I feel like autism has basically given me significantly stronger reasoning, pattern recognition, and systemizing abilities in exchange for being socially a bit weird and awkward and eccentric. I recognize that this is the perspective of someone who is high-functioning but I strongly enjoy having autism.
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