Pill for Autism?

[sneezecakesmum]

Not sure if anyone has already mentioned this item.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2293113/New-drug-help-reverse-autism-tested-children-time-successful-clinical-trials-mice.html

Yes we did have a thread on it - v hopeful I thought

sounds hopeful.

I read about this too...so marking my place on this thread as never saw the other.

See its the wording that gets me every time.

REVERSE autism.

Rather read that, with the drug it, "MAY relieve some autistic symptoms"

If it works and it relieves that wonderful. But I guess should you stop taking it? then surely the autism would still be there????

'When cells are exposed to classical forms of dangers such as a virus, infection or toxic environmental substance, a defence mechanism is activated

DS didnt have a virus or infection and neither were there any toxic enviromental stuff going on. He was born the way he is now.

Sorry to be picky but I am always dubious when in a write up the words reverse, cure and treat are on the same page. Which one is it? x

Given that 3/4 of my DC's are definitely on the spectrum, and my fourth is starting the diagnostic process, I have lots of 'traits', my Dbro is dxd with Aspergers, I fail to see how something that (in my family at least) is obviously genetic in origin, can be 'cured' or 'reversed' with any tablet.

Since when has any pill been able to 'cure' or 'reverse' a part of a person's genetic make-up?!

That is what I am finding difficult too Merry.

Dont get me wrong I am all for research into improving matters for our DC and the future population. And yes DS takes medication for his adhd side of things and yes it helps and yes it gives him some relief so much so that it seems to vanish before me just leaving the asd and tics.

However without it its all there in full swing and no let up for him.

So I am guessing if this drug works (which would be wonderful) then it would be a permanent life long med?

What side effects did the mice get before they give it to children? Did the mice get long term treatment and then what happened once they were off it?

Thinks I am going to have to stick my nose around the net a bit lol

I have a cousin in his 50's at the very severe end of the scale (non-verbal etc). Sadly as he's from a family of 11, and none of his siblings display any traits whatsoever I'm inclined to believe his form of autism is due to birth injury/gestational issues. The thought that a medication could unlock his whole world seems like a miracle though. Sadly I'm not sure that if the autism is due to brain injury a drug can help.

DS is on the borderline of the ASD spectrum - for him I'd be reluctant to medicate for fear of the drugs causing more harm than good via side effects, or changing the personality I love so much. The education system needs to change to accomodate children like DS, rather than the other way around.

DS's ASD traits are definately genetic - yet there have been some incredibly high achievers in the extended family. If we "cure" the ASD traits via gene therapy do we also remove the potential for genius, innovation and sheer stubborness upon which mankind's progress & survival has depended upon through the ages?

If the drug is a gene therapy what effects does it have upon subsequent generations? Major ethical issues here?

I don't think it reverses autism or changes genetics, but simply manages symptoms - similar to how drugs manage the symptoms of other brain-based conditions such as depression or schizophrenia

coff33pot - "DS didnt have a virus or infection and neither were there any toxic enviromental stuff going on. He was born the way he is now."
On the other thread someone posted the original article and it says they used the maternal immune activation mouse model, so I'm guessing that means that they get autistic mice by exposing the pregnant mother mouse to something like a virus, and then the baby mice are born autistic.

Children born with a variety of disorders can be that way because of seemingly minor and unnoticed infections during pregnancy. There is also a major genetic factor in some families. Genetically linked illnesses like haemophilia are treated with transfusions which keep it under control, so there is a possibility that even genitically linked autism may be treatable.

Certainly not every child needs or wants to be medicated, but it would be brilliant if there could be something else in the armoury besides the accepted techniques.

But its not going to "cure or "reverse" autism. The word "treat" autism makes me shudder as it is not a illness or disease (though the term disease is used in the other link I see)

History of flagged traits throughout my family including some dx of co morbids. However genetic testing came back with no worries. WE were not tested though.

He was prem, he was wedged, there was a CS involved and he had 2 true knots. I was still out in 24 hours regardless and he was fine no virus or illnesses or disease.

Its just a plain old neurological disorder.

It would be good if this worked to relieve symptoms though but obviously they have a long way to go just yet. :)

Off to read that link in more depth x

I've got two with AS/HFA, and looking at my family and my husband I'd say it was definitely genetic! Doubt if there would be much a pill could do. I think they have to be very careful with this one as they may be raising a lot of people's hopes at what is actually an early stage of the research.