I wrote to March of Dimes and asked if they supported, or were considering, any research to develop a prenatal test for autism.
This is their reply:
No we are not doing such research and are unaware of any scientific effort to develop a prenatal test. A prenatal test cannot look at behavior---only genetic make-up, which for autism is largely unknown.
If they are unaware of any scientific effort to develop such a test there are quite naive.
Its good that they say that they arent supporting it.
Nem, Baron-Cohen has identified higher testosterone levels as a possible predisposing factor.
Remember that many scientific institutions do not reveal all the work that they are carrying out, and may only announce something once completed, that could happen at any time.
Have a look at the work of Simon Baron-Cohen, there is a recording of him in the general section where he talks about some of his theories.
He does support the idea that AS and autism are a different wiring of the brain, and not neccassarily a disability for everyone, however the Autism Research centre does receive funding from CAN.
(governed by multiple genes and havign more than one possible cause), meaning that it is not necessarily something you can do a genetic test for, which you would need in order to identify carriers, one of the likely steps in any program to remove ASDs from the geen pool.
amy has mentioned earlier the possibilty for using a "big" combo of various chemicals with deviant values to ID.
anyone seen studies with comparative deviant chemical values for the different diagnoses on the spectrum?
how will the companies finding such ID methods earn any money on it? (exept a big bonus from the various 3letters of evil) or by holding their method proprietary.
did the people who found "ID parameters" for downs in fetus get any money?
really forgot to take that in mind...
but IF a company come with a method for ASD how would they act for getting profit?
and if a dna test come you think its likely it will cover the whole spectrum or will certain regions perhaps be easier to ID
Do you think the method would become widespread quite fast and the test costs covered by normal insurance or society, (for all not only riskgroups)
they got dna and chromosone test for fragileX are they getting "wiped out" and are they a good model for what will happen to us IF?
March of Dimes lied.
They were funding the prenatal testing research at Baylor.
http://w ww.marchofdimes.com/texas/10132_12408.asp (broken link)
Arthur L. Beaudet, M.D. - $248,103
Institute for Molecular Genetics
6/1/03 - 5/31/06 (2nd year)
Purpose: To learn whether a cause of autism is overactivity of the gene called UBE3A, due to disturbance of a natural mechanism that suppresses activity of specific genes in cells when suppression is appropriate for those cells' normal functions.
Goal: Prevent or treat autism.
They really did directly fund work for this!
We need to log all of this info to show on
http://www.autismprenataltest.com because this information will disappear from public view shortly.
Their initial response to you Bonnie was similar to the one I had from CAN, 'no we dont research prenatal test, and we dont think its even possible' meanwhile they are paying thousands of dollars to directly fund such research.
I think that they have head nodders and placaters answering emails, whilst the dirty work goes on behind closed doors.
I keep tryint to say this, they CAN NOT so much as THINK about developing a test until the genetics of ASDs are understood, which is going to take A LONG TIME.
By god I pray that you are right.
See the other threads from today that show that they already made a prenatal test for autism.
March of Dimes lied.
They were funding the prenatal testing research at Baylor.
http://w ww.marchofdimes.com/texas/10132_12408.asp (broken link)
Have a look at the image to the right of the page -
HELP SAVE BABIES
DONATE NOW
Whilst knowingly funding a prenatal test. I cannot say how sick that makes me feel.
We, too, are very worried about this.
If someone does not really need a diagnosis I would be cautious about getting one.
But I was thinking it might be beneficial to seek a dx for my son before he finishes high school and goes to college. Perhaps special allowances for taking tests in a private, quiet setting, rather than a crowded classroom, etc.
Many aspies have sought a diagnosis of ADHD or something similar, so that they can get the accommodations without the stigma. That might be something to consider.
Of course, the way things are going, hyperactive folks could quite easily become the next target for eradication...
I thought that it might be helpful to ask parents who already decided to go for a prenatal test to have the same genetic screening done, as its likely that any autistic genes that show would also show in one of the parents.
The idea being that the child is like the parents, and they wouldn't want their chance to live removed.
Though in practice the price would make it out of the option, it might give them something to think about.
It is true that Downs babies with heart and lung problems can be left to die after birth and not be given treatment in an incubator that would save their life.
Now I'm begining to regret getting the official diagnosis as that prenatal test is available. There's no way I'd agree to that prenatal test, nor would I have an abortion. I'd like to be able to decide for myself whether or not to have children, if I got my tubes tied, it will be because I WANT it.