Re: Aspie Unity

April 23, 2005

Having recently met the son of a co-worker who is autistic (but is presently

in Medical School) I think you are right...

Also, I think I probably appear to be at the " milder end of the spectrum " ...

and would have been categorized differently earlier in life.

Re: Aspie Unity

>

> I've been in many discussions about what is the difference between AS

> and autism. Some people theorize that those with classic autism are

> in a world of their own and that there is no desire to be part of

> this one, whereas those with AS have more desire to communicate. Hope

> this makes sense.

>

>> > > > > " We're not sick, we're just wired up a little differently. "

>> > > >

>> > > > Even 'differently' has its own negative connotations. Can't

> we use

>> > > some

>> > > > sort of positive expression? I'm at a loss for just the right

> words

>> > > at

>> > > > the moment, but am searching.

>> > > > Rainbow

>

> FAM Secret Society is a community based on respect, friendship, support

> and acceptance. Everyone is valued.

>

> Don't forget, there are links to other FAM sites on the Links page in the

> folder marked " Other FAM Sites. "

>

> ________________________________

>

April 25, 2005

> How do they measure serotonin? Can it be seen in some blood test or what?

Lotta: They use a Magnet-scan and then a PET-scan combined with this.....

Sounds unlikely that they can actually SEE serotonin. What they can see is the activity in the brain. Do they perhaps think that the more activity, the more serotonin?

They also measure the level in your spine...

That sounds mre likely.

> I would have joined the study but dont qualify due to my back surgery. You cant have

"junk" in you body as far as understood...You also need a sibling that isn't qualified for an AS/HFA dx.

I have both in the family;) What for?

Inger

April 25, 2005

> How do they measure serotonin? Can it be seen in some blood test or what?

Lotta: They use a Magnet-scan and then a PET-scan combined with this.....

Sounds unlikely that they can actually SEE serotonin. What they can see is the activity in the brain. Do they perhaps think that the more activity, the more serotonin?

They also measure the level in your spine...

That sounds mre likely.

> I would have joined the study but dont qualify due to my back surgery. You cant have

"junk" in you body as far as understood...You also need a sibling that isn't qualified for an AS/HFA dx.

I have both in the family;) What for?

Inger

April 25, 2005

I looked up serum serotonin on Google, and found that this is measured

using high performance liquid chromatography. I seem to recall that

serotonin level itself may not be very revealing (although elevated

levels are found in a number of mental disorders). You also need to

know about serotonin receptors in the brain, and you really can't go

around sampling people's brain tissue. There is a condition where

people make a truncated serotonin receptor protein, which doesn't bind

serotonin very well. According to Ratey in Shadow Syndromes, I

seem to recall, some people with this are prone to losing control and

getting angry easily.

Ken

>

> > How do they measure serotonin? Can it be seen in some blood test

or what?

>

> Lotta: They use a Magnet-scan and then a PET-scan combined with

this.....

>

> Sounds unlikely that they can actually SEE serotonin. What they

can see is the activity in the brain. Do they perhaps think that the

more activity, the more serotonin?

>

> They also measure the level in your spine...

>

> That sounds mre likely.

>

> > I would have joined the study but dont qualify due to my back

surgery. You cant have

> " junk " in you body as far as understood...You also need a sibling

that isn't qualified for an AS/HFA dx.

> I have both in the family;)

>

> What for?

>

> Inger

April 25, 2005