Tag: autism
-
Let’s talk about autism.
We’re coming to the end of Autism Awareness Month, which has slipped by rather silently – the usual barrage of posters in schools, libraries, shopping centres and swimming pools could of course not happen this year. I often think that, as disorders go, this must surely be one that requires the least awareness raising. After…
-
A good deal gone bad: how evolving more intricate brains made us vulnerable to autism spectrum disorders
What if the evolutionary changes which made us human also laid the foundation for some of the most complex disorders which affect us? Arguably, the most important feature of our species is our brain, an organ which enables us to do everything from walking and breathing to solving complex equations and reflecting on the meaning…
-
The gendered dimensions of autism
Gender has been at the forefront of discussion in recent years. Amongst all the talk about social issues, is there a place for science? Can you be disadvantaged –or indeed advantaged –by your sex when it comes to disorders and disease? Sexual dimorphism is the physiological and behavioural difference between sexes. It arises through natural…
-
Can cannabis curb the challenges of autism?
Cannabis has long been a contentious substance in many societies. Holding a class B classification in the United Kingdom (UK) under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act, possession of cannabis can result in a prison sentence of up to five years or a hefty fine. However, in late 2018, the UK relaxed its regulations about…