Invest in impactful medical research on autism to advance interventions, treatments, support services, and prevention strategies for improved outcomes

Health
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Today, 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism, a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability. Of these, 25% require maximum support for daily functions and may never live independently. Additionally, 30% present with regressive autism, forming the majority of those most profoundly affected.

However, outcomes can improve with dedicated medical research focused on pathogenesis, bio-mechanisms, and co-occurring conditions to enhance interventions, treatment, and prevention.

95% of children with autism have a co-occurring medical condition, averaging 4.9 conditions per child. These often impact behavior and development. Early detection and treatment can lead to significant improvements in social, behavioral, and developmental areas.

Despite its prevalence, autism remains greatly misunderstood. The symptoms that lead to diagnosis stem from underlying bio-mechanisms, and there is currently no standardized medical care for autism. Early medical intervention is crucial, yet many pediatricians recommend therapy alone when a child exhibits regressive behaviors, often neglecting baseline testing for common conditions like metabolic disorders or immune dysfunction that could significantly influence development.

Research into these bio-mechanisms is essential for developing evidence-based interventions and treatments that improve quality of life for affected children.

Furthermore, autism is highly heterogeneous, with environmental factors implicated in its pathogenesis. It is critical to thoroughly investigate the role of pharmaceutical products, including vaccines, as potential causative factors. Heavy metals like aluminum can cause metabolic dysfunction and oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation is prevalent in the autism population, suggesting that vaccines may act as immune activation events during critical developmental periods, impacting both cognitive and biological development, such as the skewing of an immature immune system, stagnation of a developing microbiomome, and stress to mitochondrial/metabolic function of a child in the early stages of development- changing the trajectory of the child’s development.

The MAHA movement seeks not only to prevent chronic illness in children but also to support those already affected in achieving better health outcomes. Please help by funding essential critical research. There are dedicated scientists and researchers working in this field, and increased support and funding will drive advancement in autism studies

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Amazing notes here.
I linked you in my thread as it relates to Brain health. :pray:t2:

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Thank you so much. It would be an absolute dream to get this initiative supported, way overdue and could lead to improved outcomes for so many children.

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I really appreciate the depth and detail you have composed this.

My thinking is: these areas of research will inevitably feed into one another, since we are looking at the brain through whatever means it at our disposal. There really is a feeling that this science is still mystery to us.

It’s like exploring the ocean - there’s still so much we just don’t know. But at least we can anticipate this happening. Inevitably new discoveries in one category can and will influence another category.

:fist:t2:

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This is something for private companies or organizations to spend money on. It’s not an appropriate use of tax money.

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Would you still say that if your child had autism?

Genuinely curious!
Of course this is a space for exploring rationales - Im wondering what your reasoning is?

Thanks

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It can take place of the NIH pharmaceutical pipeline. Also do you realize how much autism costs the taxpayers- between education and medicaid, EI alone, please- if that is your concern.

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On the topic of financing this - Would be great to see what you can come up with regarding avenues for funding!

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The annual budget for NIH is 50.1B for 2025, I would like to see a shift from infectous disease concentration to a chronic health focus. I also would like to see a waste analysis of the agency, less funding & grants for studies that really do not have an impact on public health (like the ones Rand Paul typically highlights), loosening up the budget.
The reality is autism cost to Americans was estimated at 223B in 2020, and projected to reach 589B by 2030 and 1.36 TRILLION by 2040.
Investment in prevention, intervention and treatment research would lead to better outcomes, and drastically reduce the fiscal burden on the country. Cost benefit analysis.

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Insurance companies should have to pay out for all services for Autism services. There should be no limit on the amount of speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy that an autistic person needs. If an autistic person needs an AAC device insurance should cover this. Any type of adaptive equipment insurance should cover this. Schools that offer Aftercare should also have to extend their services to children on the spectrum and not discriminate.