genetic test?

Post Reply New Topic

If they were to come up with a genetic test for AS and you were previously diagnosed as having it by a psychologist but then found out via the genetic test that you didn't. How would this affect you?

I think something like this will be possible in ten or twenty years...

Asperger's is caused by ten to twenty genes... the immune system and nervous system are both switched...

The difference is these genes are "online" and are interacting in a different way...

I think if I did not test as autistic genetically, it would mean they had not found all the autism genes after all, since autism clearly runs in my family.

Hmmm........interesting.
I think this will be possibly answered within the next 10 years, I dont think this will effect me to much then, the likely hood of it being different than todays DX is pretty slim, two Aspies in the same household both males, all females are NT's i rest my case it's definatly in my genes so to speak.


Aspies rock................

I'd take it all with the proverbial pinch of salt. OK. there might be a gene (or combination of genes) that predisposes towards AS, but that does not mean that everyone with AS necessarily has those genes. AS isnt a simple medical condition or illness; it is a complex mix of mental, emotional and physical characteristics that possibly also needs some kind of environmental conditions to manifest itself fully..Just some people with the affected genes might not demonstrate Asperger's, so some people with all the characteristics of Aspergers might not have the affected genes. There might be different forms of the condition.
After all, it has been demonstrated that there is a gene which predisposes certain woman to have breast cancer. This can definitely run in families ...a woman with several relatives who have had the disease, who proves to have the gene, has a higher risk than usual of developing it - but it is not 100% certain . She might be a lucky exception. But another woman, without the gene and with no family history of the problem, might still develop breast cancer.
A genetic test for AS might be interesting, but I am not sure of its relevance. After all, what practical difference would there be between someone who has the gene and AS, and someone whose personality has all the signs and possible problems that go with AS but doesnt actually have the gene? Wouldnt they both need help?

Glenn[/i]

I agree with Glenn, genetics aren't the only way to get AS and your environment can effect who you are. I wasn't diagnosed and probably didn't have it to a certain degree until I fell into a major depression and my world collapsed in my early teens. My world's since been put back together, but I've difanitely changed (mentally). It's not obvious in other family members that might have it because they might of lived fairly steady lifes.

To answer the question, I wouldn't be suprised at all. I might have become AS through environmental causes, I was never as anti-social as I am now before my world collapsed (parents divorced, father married evil stepmother,etc.).

Doesn't the diagnositic critera require that you had problems as a child?

I would be surprised. I would also question the findings.

Edited

I think androidbeing is referring to the point that Aspergers is supposed to be a Developmental Disorder in that the problems have been there since birth, in one form or another-- even though they may be better or worse at different times in the life span. Am I correct, androidbeing?

I mean, the very definition of a Developmental Disorder is that it is present throughout development.

[/pendantry]

Yep, thats exactly what I meant