Aspies For Freedom

Let's see how many also have autoimmune issues.  I do, but had never considered that this was related to spectrum. Here's a list of accepted and suspected autoimmune diseases in case you aren't sure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aut...e_diseases

I have eczema but it's not on the list, so No.

You sure are an interesting newbie...

Let me see....

If I were to list all the disorders I have that might be, or definitely are, auto-immune I would possibly bore you all to tears! My GP has also noticed a high number of his autistic patients with auto-immune problems.

So yes, I believe that there is a high concurrence of auto-immunity and autism.

But I have no idea whether either causes the other, or even if a third factor causes both.

I am sure that there could be a great deal of benefit to us of research into this area, because anything that reduces the stress on my system would be welcomed.

Why can't we discuss the science here? What size of 'audience' is necessary? Quite a lot of threads only have a handful of contributors.

I think that there are quite a few scientifically-minded people here only too happy to discuss te science, so pleas go ahead with an explanation, I for one would be fascinated. Genuinely, I'm not being sarcastic here. I suffer with many disorders, and would like an explanation, or at least some informed speculation, especially as I will be seeing a neurologist soon.

Sorry about not using the jargon!!! (btw do you know that 'jargon' comes from French, meaning the twittering of birds? )

I am really quite sure that the only reason that there is a gender imbalance amongst diagnosed Aspies is cultural - doctors don't look for its different manifestation in females and (if any diagnosis is made at all) we are more likely to get one of the 'hysterical' types of diagnosis (from the Greek for 'womb' - all female problems used to be blamed on that organ!)

It is the same with heart diseases. There is a false assumption that women do not get heart diseases until their sixties at the earliest, because we have a completely different presentation of symptoms to men; even though the death rate from heart disorders is the same in both sexes so that alone should be telling cardiologists something.

Immune systems and, indeed, all our organs/systems are regulated by our CNS and it follows that CNS differences are likely to lead to multiple systemic problems.

To get onto mother/child immune problems; I have Rhesus negative blood, and my first three children had Rhesus positive blood, so I was given Anti-D injections after each of them to prevent my system developing its own antibodies. These would have crossed the placenta in subsequent pregnancies and destroyed my child's blood. I believe that antibodies to disease are also transmitted in breast milk.

Oh, and antibodies are large molecules and cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. So any causative link has to be the other way round...

Autoimmune disorders of all sorts seem to run in my family... My mother has hypothyroidism, my father died of complications from ulcerative colitis, most people on my father's side of the family have psoriasis to some degree, and I am suspected of having endometriosis.

Also, I welcome all science-based posts anyone wants to make here (on this site, I mean, not this thread if they do not pertain to the topic of autoimmune disorders).

Why do you feel there is no audience here - I don't understand what you mean - perhaps I am missing your point. I'm interested.

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Title:   Autoimmune disorders

Publisher:   Better Health Channel

Description:   An autoimmune disorder occurs when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks their own body tissues. There are around 80 different autoimmune disorders, ranging in severity from mild to disabling. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be managed.
http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Au...e_Diseases


Asthma and eczema are both (from my understanding) linked with the autoimmune system - as are allergies. The list from wiki isn't comprehensive enough.

ED1003 - I think we posted at the same time - maybe your posts explains my question in the post above. I need to read.

Genetics that lead to development of ASD's very likely impact on other body systems - not just the neurolgical system.

The low body temperature can be linked to hypothyroidism - I have read that hypothyroidism in the mother has being linked to an increased chance of autism in the child.
I have read lots about autoimmune disorders and a correlation to autism but
I can not find where solid scientific research proves either of these links. Maybe it is yet to happen.

Thanks for taking the time to post ED2003 - I understand your point. Your interest is very much that of a scientist - I enjoy watching with interest to learn of new ideas and developments but I am not a scientist.

None whatsoever.

If autism is associated with autoimmune diseases, it's unlikely to be due to one causing the other.
Much more likely is a gene expressed both in the brain and some immune-related cells, which when mutated changes development in both areas.
Just like with cystic fibrosis, the digestive issues don't cause the respiratory issues or vice versa, it's just that the same gene affects lung development and pancreatic development. (I'm not trying to say autism is like cystic fibrosis, just that CF is a genetic condition affecting multiple organ systems.)