Hormone oxytocin nasal spray found to help people with autism

[Cetacea]

Hopefully this doesn't fall by the wayside like the Esctacy/PTSD studies did.




A nasal spray containing a hormone that is known to make women more maternal and men less shy apparently can help those with autism make eye contact and interact better with others, according to a provocative study released Monday.

The study, involving 13 adults with either a high-functioning form of autism or Asperger syndrome, a mild form of the disorder, found that when the subjects inhaled the hormone oxytocin, they scored significantly better on a test that involved recognizing faces and performed much better in a game that involved tossing a ball with others.

Although more research is needed to confirm and explore the findings, the results are the latest in a growing body of evidence indicating that the hormone could lead to ways to help people with the often devastating brain disorder function better.

"This is the first study that looked at whether oxytocin has an effect on social behavior, which is a major deficit in autism," said Angela Sirigu, who directs the National Center for Scientific Research in France and led the study, published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "It looks like it could be very helpful."

Full article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/15/AR2010021501984.html

[Mari333]

1. oxytocin is also, I believe, the hormone that is released during sex

and is a stress release hormone.

[Hannah Bell]

28. Breast feeding.

[Cetacea]

2. Yes. A company sells the spray, "Liquid Trust"

They have been selling it for a few years. Lots of info and research here:
http://oxytocinnasalsprays.com/

[Mari333]

3. whoa.

I wonder if it helps with agoraphobia..

[Cetacea]

5. I'm inclined to believe that it does.

And a host of other disorders!

[leftofcool]

4. Does it work for other brain disorders? Rush needs Oxy Nasal spray

[Cetacea]

6. No. It wouldn't work for Rush.

:hi:

[Cetacea]

8. ...

[Odin2005]

11. LOL!

[FarCenter]

14. Rush abuses Oxycontin, the trade name for the pain killer oxydocone; oxytocin is a hormone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin

[Deep13]

7. marking for future reference nt

[Kitty Herder]

26. me too nt

[Name removed]

9. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Odin2005]

10. Given what oxytocin does this is not suprising at all.

It definitely explains my behavior when I'm in love! :rofl: Though I take offense to the wording "devastating brain disorder".

Oh, and the proper wording is "autistic people".

[JerseygirlCT]

12. That's interesting...

The hormone that helps women and their babies bond... especially when breastfeeding.

[MineralMan]

13. That must be what makes babies' heads smell so nice.

You've gotta love the smell of the top of a baby's head. There's no choice.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. Oh, absolutely

But I'll admit to being just plain baby-crazy anyway. I miss that smell - and the feel of a little one snuggled up next to you!

[MineralMan]

17. I'm not a dad, but I sure like my nieces' and nephews' babies.

These days, it's grand-nieces and such, of course.

[JerseygirlCT]

18. I can still summon up the feeling

of holding my oldest on my chest while we both napped. It was hard to tell where I ended and he began.

Of course, that baby is now a grown man...

[KittyWampus]

19. Awww, so sweet.

O8)

[MineralMan]

20. That's wonderful.

Tell him that. Then ignore the "Aw, mom..." thing. He'll love it.

[dustbunnie]

16. This looks to be encouraging! Hope it pans out as it would be a real gift to many families. n/t

[Cetacea]

22. +1

[alp227]

21. So will these be substitutes for families who waive vaccines?

It could really cure both vaccine-caused autism AND allergies/flu/other nasal issues!
:sarcasm:

But seriously, this is an interesting find right there.

[Canuckistanian]

23. Autism has many, many forms

My son, who has been diagnosed on the high-functioning autism spectrum has NONE of the symptoms described in the article.

Eye contact? No problem. Recognizing faces? Hell, he's better than me at remembering faces and names.

I'm willing to try any therapy, but this report overgeneralizes autism.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

24. yes

[Pithlet]

25. That happens all the time.

My son has the eye contact problem, but isn't lacking in emotions, one of the other over generalizations you always hear about. He is a big lovebug and has never been shy. He usually has one or two fans at any place we frequent who know him by name.

[Hekate]

27. Amazing: I only knew it as the hormone that made my milk let down for my babies....

... and not-so-incidentally made me relax and bliss out, which facilitated maternal bonding.

Who knew? I hope it really does help others.

Hekate