4 ms·

Theres loads of research linking autism with metabolic dysfunction. It is not a state of health.

geofft 8y ago
Hm, https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/clinical-research-metabolic-disorders-rare-in-autism/ https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/clinical-research-metaboli... argues otherwise. Also, would you say that I'm not in a state of health because I'm allergic to nuts?
- PeterisP 8y ago
  > would you say that I'm not in a state of health because I'm allergic to nuts? Yes, definitely - wouldn't you? It's a flawed behavior of the body that causes disadvantages, for some people it's life threatening, so it's definitely a health issue; If that would be easily and permanently curable without side effects, then it would and should be cured en masse as a common healthcare procedure.
  - geofft 8y ago
    I agree with that description, but is the conclusion that I'm permanently unhealthy? And is that a useful definition—isn't everyone permanently unhealthy in one way or another?
    - dooglius 8y ago
      Health is neither boolean nor one-dimensional, but we can still say an allergy to nuts is less healthy than not. The same can be said for autism.
    - PeterisP 8y ago
      While almost no one has perfect health, a key factor there is the ability to correct the issues and the cost/benefit of doing so. It's not worth mourning about a nut allergy because (as far as I understand) there's not much that we can do about it, so one might as well as just accept it as the way things are. However, if it could be easily and permanently curable without side effects, then not doing so would be an intentional choice to remain permanently unhealthy. However, for the original discussion about autism, it may be relevant to consider the analogies (and differences) to the hotly debated issue regarding cochlear implants for deaf children. Both sides have a lot to say and I'm probably mangling their opinions, but in essence there's a situation where certain types of deafness can be "fixed" (albeit imperfectly) by cochlear implants; but many in the Deaf community don't want to be "fixed" to become more like hearing people; and in order for hearing/speech centers to develop properly the procedure needs to be done in childhood as early as possible, before they can decide for themselves. So there's a rather emotional debate on whether deaf kids should "be fixed" if they parents prefer that they would not (because e.g. they want their kids to be a full part of the Deaf community, using ASL instead of spoken English as their native language) - and if that raises a lot of questions regarding what should be considered states of permanent unhealth, then the mental issues would be even more contestable and contested.
- Madmallard 7y ago
  Studies have associated both mitochondrial disorders and elevated peptide levels in urine with autism.

Hm, https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/clinical-research-metabolic-disorders-rare-in-autism/ https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/clinical-research-metaboli... argues otherwise. Also, would you say that I'm not in a state of health because I'm allergic to nuts?

PeterisP 8y ago
> would you say that I'm not in a state of health because I'm allergic to nuts? Yes, definitely - wouldn't you? It's a flawed behavior of the body that causes disadvantages, for some people it's life threatening, so it's definitely a health issue; If that would be easily and permanently curable without side effects, then it would and should be cured en masse as a common healthcare procedure.
- geofft 8y ago
  I agree with that description, but is the conclusion that I'm permanently unhealthy? And is that a useful definition—isn't everyone permanently unhealthy in one way or another?
  - dooglius 8y ago
    Health is neither boolean nor one-dimensional, but we can still say an allergy to nuts is less healthy than not. The same can be said for autism.
  - PeterisP 8y ago
    While almost no one has perfect health, a key factor there is the ability to correct the issues and the cost/benefit of doing so. It's not worth mourning about a nut allergy because (as far as I understand) there's not much that we can do about it, so one might as well as just accept it as the way things are. However, if it could be easily and permanently curable without side effects, then not doing so would be an intentional choice to remain permanently unhealthy. However, for the original discussion about autism, it may be relevant to consider the analogies (and differences) to the hotly debated issue regarding cochlear implants for deaf children. Both sides have a lot to say and I'm probably mangling their opinions, but in essence there's a situation where certain types of deafness can be "fixed" (albeit imperfectly) by cochlear implants; but many in the Deaf community don't want to be "fixed" to become more like hearing people; and in order for hearing/speech centers to develop properly the procedure needs to be done in childhood as early as possible, before they can decide for themselves. So there's a rather emotional debate on whether deaf kids should "be fixed" if they parents prefer that they would not (because e.g. they want their kids to be a full part of the Deaf community, using ASL instead of spoken English as their native language) - and if that raises a lot of questions regarding what should be considered states of permanent unhealth, then the mental issues would be even more contestable and contested.
Madmallard 7y ago
Studies have associated both mitochondrial disorders and elevated peptide levels in urine with autism.