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Slight tangent: Could Autism even be curable? Obviously not by scammers/snake oil salesman, I'm talking legitimate science. From my understanding Autism is lar

Slight tangent: Could Autism even be curable? Obviously not by scammers/snake oil salesman, I'm talking legitimate science. From my understanding Autism is largely genetic[0], so without the ability to re-write someone's DNA (and the potential ramifications that could have), I don't know if a cure like that could ever exist. Although I guess Epigenetics[1] could be an interesting avenue of study. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_autism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_autism [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics_of_autism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics_of_autism

astine 8y ago
Myopia is typically genetic but is can treated or cured (to a large degree) in a number of ways. Just because something is genetic doesn't mean that there is not treatment to effectively 'cure' it. The problem with autism is that we know so little about what causes it on bio-mechanical level that medical treatment is well beyond us. That may change in the future, but for now, there is nothing we can do.
- Someone1234 8y ago
  I'm not sure comparing eyeglasses to problems within formation of the brain is a very strong comparison. We haven't really cured anything like autism that I know of. But I agree we're a very long way away from curing something like autism, particularly if it required altering DNA/gene expression.
  - astine 8y ago
    The comparison is apt to the point I was making: that it is not the genetic nature of autism that makes it difficult to treat but our ignorance of its mechanisms (perhaps also the nature of the mechanisms themselves.) I think that you're confusing the etiology of the thing with the thing itself. Just as there is no reason to suspect that gene therapy would be necessary, there is no reason to suspect that it would be helpful in a person who has already developed autism.

astine 8y ago

Myopia is typically genetic but is can treated or cured (to a large degree) in a number of ways. Just because something is genetic doesn't mean that there is not treatment to effectively 'cure' it. The problem with autism is that we know so little about what causes it on bio-mechanical level that medical treatment is well beyond us. That may change in the future, but for now, there is nothing we can do.

Someone1234 8y ago
I'm not sure comparing eyeglasses to problems within formation of the brain is a very strong comparison. We haven't really cured anything like autism that I know of. But I agree we're a very long way away from curing something like autism, particularly if it required altering DNA/gene expression.
- astine 8y ago
  The comparison is apt to the point I was making: that it is not the genetic nature of autism that makes it difficult to treat but our ignorance of its mechanisms (perhaps also the nature of the mechanisms themselves.) I think that you're confusing the etiology of the thing with the thing itself. Just as there is no reason to suspect that gene therapy would be necessary, there is no reason to suspect that it would be helpful in a person who has already developed autism.