Thread

Autism is genetic – and why this information matters now

100 points · 116 comments · AndrewDucker

profsummergig · 1789598299 · focus · HN ↗
So many misconceptions in this writeup.
Here's one: even if it were genetic, there could be triggering environmental factors that trigger the onset of autism (I'm just giving a hypothetical example, not making a claim here).
1. nomel · 1789605863 · focus · HN ↗
  For example, 45% reduction in symptoms from fecal transplant: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48158494">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48158494
  > Prior to the study, 83% of participants had "severe" autism. Two years later, only 17% were rated as severe, 39% as mild or moderate, and incredibly, 44% were below the cut-off for mild ASD.
  Incredible! Sure, there could be a genetic component to what flourishes, or ever seeded, in one's microflora, but there's definitely some external complexities involved here.
  1. dns_snek · 1789633518 · focus · HN ↗
    The study that found a 47%* reduction (relative to symptoms at the start of the study) wasn't placebo controlled and had a sample size of just 18, so there's not even a control group to compare against.
    > We note that due to the open-label nature of this initial trial, all of the assessments are subject to placebo effect, however the long-term improvements we observed here are promising.
    <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-42183-0#Sec2" rel="nofollow">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-42183-0#Sec2
    nomel · 1789643368 · focus · HN ↗
    Then, I suppose you could argue there's a possible, statistically significant, genetic component for efficacy of placebo, in autistic people. ;)

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