New experimental drugs show promise in suppression and reversing of severe autism symptoms

[Jman]

https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-reversed-neuropharmacology-29595/
 

So far trials are just limited to mice, but a hypothetical autism pill may be 5-10 years out.

[PenguinBoss]

Today I learned that mice can have autism.

In all seriousness, I hope it works out, and I hope people don't have to pay out the ass to afford it.

[1pooh4u]

A lot of times what works with mice does not work beyond that. I hope that’s not the case here. 
 

 

[André Toulon]

I understand theres a spectrum, but at what level do you need to "cure" it. There's some extreme cases, but honestly....you know what, just gonna put my soapbox up before I get started

I'll read it later, because I know they aren't just throwing more sedatives at it.

 

[scoobdog]

22 hours ago, André Toulon said:

I understand theres a spectrum, but at what level do you need to "cure" it. There's some extreme cases, but honestly....you know what, just gonna put my soapbox up before I get started

I'll read it later, because I know they aren't just throwing more sedatives at it.

Quote

Moreover, they were able to reverse symptoms similar to those of autism — including susceptibility to seizures, heightened sensitivity to stimulus, increased motor activity, repetitive behaviors and decreased social interactions — by giving the mice drugs that suppressed this area of the brain.

This isn't intended to cure something the doesn't need to be cured.  I think the point here is that it cures some of the more severe issues that arise from the condition.

[MasqueradeOverture]

If it were cured no one would be here 

[lupin_bebop]

I……was going to get on my soapbox about this……but it’s looking to deal with symptoms, so I’m just going to deal with this later. 

[_lost_username_]

They aren't really defining "severe" very clearly. Outside of epilepsy, "heightened sensitivity to stimulus, increased motor activity, repetitive behaviors and decreased social interactions" are not things your typical person with autism probably desires to be "cured." Most of the attempts to "cure" atypical people, that includes ADHD, are really about making them conform to what neurotypical people consider desirable because some things make them uncomfortable. Outside of actual extreme cases (non-verbal people who self-harm repetitively) this sounds like something that's going to be abused by parents who want their kids to be "normal."

This is honestly kind of like someone in the 50s and 60s offering minorities a drug to make them "white." By that I mean, there's nothing that really needs to be fixed but because it makes some members of the majority uncomfortable, they being the way they are is a "problem."

[SwimOdin]

Hooray, I will be able to make eye contact now, I’m sure.

[katt_goddess]

2 hours ago, SwimOdin said:

Hooray, I will be able to make eye contact now, I’m sure.

You'll look like RFK Jr staring down a juicy fly.

 

[scoobdog]

3 hours ago, _lost_username_ said:

They aren't really defining "severe" very clearly. Outside of epilepsy, "heightened sensitivity to stimulus, increased motor activity, repetitive behaviors and decreased social interactions" are not things your typical person with autism probably desires to be "cured." Most of the attempts to "cure" atypical people, that includes ADHD, are really about making them conform to what neurotypical people consider desirable because some things make them uncomfortable. Outside of actual extreme cases (non-verbal people who self-harm repetitively) this sounds like something that's going to be abused by parents who want their kids to be "normal."

This is honestly kind of like someone in the 50s and 60s offering minorities a drug to make them "white." By that I mean, there's nothing that really needs to be fixed but because it makes some members of the majority uncomfortable, they being the way they are is a "problem."

This is probably the real concern.  To a physician, severe is probably fairly self evident - motor and neurological issues that inhibit self-reliance for instance - and they would be the ones that gatekeep the use of a hypothetically approved treatment.  But, any time you are dealing with regimen that allows patients to maintain some sort of normalcy, you run into issues that are not intrinsic to the task but are integral to interactions with others in performing that task. 

[ghostrek]

*thank you jesus*