• Question: Do you think autism could be cured / vaccinated against with drugs and vaccinations and so you think it should be? Explain your answer.

    Asked by anon-50307 to Amy, Anita, Daryl on 26 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Daryl Jones

      Daryl Jones answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      Hi rorythescientist

      I don’t think we will be able to vaccinate against autism. At least not for a long time.
      At the moment scientists still aren’t really sure what causes autism. So we need to work out exactly how it happens before we can vaccinate against it, or come up with drugs that will stop it.

      Good question!! 🙂

    • Photo: Anita Thomas

      Anita Thomas answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      Hi rorythescientist,

      As Daryl said, it’s not really possible to vaccinate against a disease that we don’t know the cause of. But – and this may sound a little harsh – do we really want to? In the past our society has benefited so much from people who (these days) would have been diagnosed as autistic (or being ‘on the autistic spectrum’). It’s possible that trying to ‘cure’ autism may blunt or remove the special focus that people with autism can bring to a problem. Do autistic people want to be ‘cured’? I’m not so sure.

    • Photo: Amy Monaghan

      Amy Monaghan answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      Rorythescientist, this is one of my favourite questions of the whole competition.

      Vaccinating against autism won’t be possible, because it has so many different causes, and because it is a spectrum disorder it is caused by different things in different people. Some drugs are being tested to help people with autism overcome social difficulties – these range from the hormone oxytocin (often called the love hormone) which is in clinical trials at the moment, to normal medicines such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications that can help people with autism cope better with day to day life. Unfortunately a lot of people with autism also have additional problems with their health, so they don’t really want to be taking more medication if they can help it.

      The most important part of your question is should we cure autism? And my answer is a very firm no. I think people with autism should be given the help and support they need to live whatever life they want, and this is usually through extra support in school or work, or social groups, rather than giving them medicine. My little brother has autism, and I volunteer and fundraise for the national autistic society. I wouldn’t want to change him in any way. It would be like me asking you to take a drug to completely change your personality. The differences between people are what make them special and we should all accept that!

      Again, brilliant question, thank you

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