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Something I learned yesterday is that autistic children are 2x more likely than the general population to experience chronic pain.
The article I read is right here, for anyone who wants to read it: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autistic-children-disproportionately-affected-by-chronic-pain/
The article I read is right here, for anyone who wants to read it: https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autistic-children-disproportionately-affected-by-chronic-pain/
Here’s the main graph included in this article.
As you can see, autistic kids with other co-occurring conditions are the most likely to experience chronic pain.
As you can see, autistic kids with other co-occurring conditions are the most likely to experience chronic pain.
These are a few main reasons I’m hypothesizing:
1. Many autistic people have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and/or generalized joint hypermobility
2. Many of us have altered interoception, and perceive pain more intensely
3. Chronic stress can cause chronic pain
1. Many autistic people have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and/or generalized joint hypermobility
2. Many of us have altered interoception, and perceive pain more intensely
3. Chronic stress can cause chronic pain
For the sake of simplicity, and because it’s relevant to me personally, I’m going to be talking about EDS/joint hypermobility.
The most common type of EDS is called hypermobile EDS (hEDS), and it’s what I have.
If it wasn’t for the autistic community, I wouldn’t have known.
The most common type of EDS is called hypermobile EDS (hEDS), and it’s what I have.
If it wasn’t for the autistic community, I wouldn’t have known.
hEDS is the only type of EDS without a known genetic marker, and it’s also the most common subtype, making up 80-90% of all EDS cases.
It’s a connective tissue disorder, meaning that it affects the structure and function of collagen (the glue that holds everything together).
It’s a connective tissue disorder, meaning that it affects the structure and function of collagen (the glue that holds everything together).
Studies have shown that autistic people are more likely to have EDS.
Additionally, mothers with EDS/joint hypermobility are just as likely to have autistic kids as autistic moms are (!!) https://www.autism.org/researchers-have-identified-a-relationship-between-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-and-autism/
Additionally, mothers with EDS/joint hypermobility are just as likely to have autistic kids as autistic moms are (!!) https://www.autism.org/researchers-have-identified-a-relationship-between-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-and-autism/
My mom isn’t autistic, but she’s extremely hypermobile. I inherited hEDS from her, and ended up being autistic as well.
And while my mom doesn’t experience much pain, I do. Chronic pain, not limited to my joints, is something I’ve had to deal with since childhood.
And while my mom doesn’t experience much pain, I do. Chronic pain, not limited to my joints, is something I’ve had to deal with since childhood.
EDS comes along with other complications as well. For me, that means I have POTS (a form of dysautonomia), mast cell activation issues, GI issues, and a very un-fun conglomeration of anxiety disorders.
(People with EDS are 16x more likely to have anxiety disorders)
(People with EDS are 16x more likely to have anxiety disorders)
All of this has made me start thinking about evolutionary trade-offs.
Autism, anxiety, etc. must exist for a good evolutionary reason. So must joint hypermobility, given how common it is.
So what if hEDS is nature’s version of a trade-off, to help create neurodiversity?
Autism, anxiety, etc. must exist for a good evolutionary reason. So must joint hypermobility, given how common it is.
So what if hEDS is nature’s version of a trade-off, to help create neurodiversity?
Sickle-cell anemia is one example of an evolutionary trade-off.
The allele that creates it is recessive, and when people have one copy of the dominant & one of the recessive, they’re protected from malaria.
The allele that creates it is recessive, and when people have one copy of the dominant & one of the recessive, they’re protected from malaria.
So instead of writing off autism as pathological just because it’s associated with other conditions that are pathological, I think it would be wise for scientists to step back and look at the big picture of evolution.
Things aren’t always as they appear on the surface.
Things aren’t always as they appear on the surface.
