Autism and Fevers
This study suggests a link between autism and fevers during pregnancy. While there are many possible triggers, this is the first I've seen mentioned of fevers.
What snagged my attention is that this could be a temperature-related effect. (It could also be triggered by immune response, but this seems less likely given that ibuprofen seemed to avoid it.) If the trigger is activated by temperature, then higher environmental temperatures could produce the same outcome. Environmental temperatures are rising; autism rates are rising. This makes me wonder what autism rates would look like if mapped against global temperatures and the availability of air conditioning.
Then I wonder if people with autism are better, the same, or worse equipped to deal with environmental stressors such as excessive heat. That is, could this be an adaptive response, or is it simply a result of high temperatures during pregnancy?
Another factor, not mentioned in the article, is that this could be a vaccine link that nobody's noticed yet. Pregnant women are nagged to take vaccines, but the most common result of that is ... running a fever for several days as the body tries to kill it with fire. If running a fever while pregnant can affect the baby, in this or other ways, then people might want to reconsider that advice or at least equip more informed consent regarding the pros and cons. Not like medics give a flying fuck about informed consent, or women, but it's a nice fantasy.
What snagged my attention is that this could be a temperature-related effect. (It could also be triggered by immune response, but this seems less likely given that ibuprofen seemed to avoid it.) If the trigger is activated by temperature, then higher environmental temperatures could produce the same outcome. Environmental temperatures are rising; autism rates are rising. This makes me wonder what autism rates would look like if mapped against global temperatures and the availability of air conditioning.
Then I wonder if people with autism are better, the same, or worse equipped to deal with environmental stressors such as excessive heat. That is, could this be an adaptive response, or is it simply a result of high temperatures during pregnancy?
Another factor, not mentioned in the article, is that this could be a vaccine link that nobody's noticed yet. Pregnant women are nagged to take vaccines, but the most common result of that is ... running a fever for several days as the body tries to kill it with fire. If running a fever while pregnant can affect the baby, in this or other ways, then people might want to reconsider that advice or at least equip more informed consent regarding the pros and cons. Not like medics give a flying fuck about informed consent, or women, but it's a nice fantasy.