05-09-2005, 04:21 AM
I found it interesting that they mentioned the boy's autoimmune disorder. I know a lot of autistic people have immune system problems that are more of a problem for them than autism/Aspergers. Unfortunately when health problems of autistic people are mentioned I think in the minds of some people the association between autism and immune system disease adds credibility to the quack theories about environmental causes of autism.
If anyone was thinking of writing a letter to refute this news story, they might consider giving an alternative explanation for the association between autism and immune system disease, which has scientific credibility. Autism tends to be associated with immune system disorders because the pre-natal development of both the brain and the immune system can be strongly influenced by high levels of testosterone. High levels of testosterone appear to have a detrimental effect on immune system development. If you want to read a scientific explanation of this stuff, written by a very influential neurologist, check this book:
Geschwind, Norman and Galaburda, Albert M. (1987). Cerebral lateralization: biological mechanisms, associations, and pathology. MIT Press.
If anyone was thinking of writing a letter to refute this news story, they might consider giving an alternative explanation for the association between autism and immune system disease, which has scientific credibility. Autism tends to be associated with immune system disorders because the pre-natal development of both the brain and the immune system can be strongly influenced by high levels of testosterone. High levels of testosterone appear to have a detrimental effect on immune system development. If you want to read a scientific explanation of this stuff, written by a very influential neurologist, check this book:
Geschwind, Norman and Galaburda, Albert M. (1987). Cerebral lateralization: biological mechanisms, associations, and pathology. MIT Press.