Geographic Tongue/Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

I have to see  it to believe it. What empirical data are you referring to? Is it peer-reviewed? What financial interests could be involved? Are the trials representative? Show me the evidence...

The genetic basis behind auto-immune conditions is very plausible, but I personally do not think that the evidence is sound enough to think that autism and immune disorders are related. Some 'experts' will always argue the opposite, but often things are more complicated than meets the eye. How can we be so sure?

Being more likely to have an auto-immune disorder if you are autistic does not really make much sense. Autism is not one condition, but many seperate conditions, just as anxiety and depression are many seperate conditions. What about mental health conditions? Are people with a mental health complaint more prone to auto-immune diseases? 1 in 4 of us may get a mental health problem at any one time.

Depends what evidence you read.

'Evidence' can be dodgy. Take Baron-Cohen's hypothesis on Testosterone and the Extreme Male Brain - quite frankly, a cover for sexism, pure and simple. Science made out to be objective can have a hidden bias. I am no expert, but I am sceptical about bio-medical theories behind autism, which is fundamentally a genetic personality difference, not a disease.

Hope said:

of course, you will find many autistic people with one of these disorders, but probably no more so than in the population at large.

Well, that's the interesting bit, Hope - there's growing evidence to suggest that auto-immune disorders are more prevalent in the autistic population than in the population at large.

Like you I doubt there's much more to it than that.

However it could well be that the genes that involved in Autism are also involved in auto-immune disorders, and so, whilst it still wouldn't be a case of 'autism=auto-immune disorder', being autistic may well make it more likely that you're also succeptable to auto-immune disorders.

What is Geographic tongue?

I find it hard to believe that auto-immune disorders and autism are closely linked. Autism is a neurological difference, a harmless variation of the brain. Autoimmune disorders are caused by the immune system attacking part of the body, such as the bowel, in Scorpion's case. For there to be a link, the same genes behind autism would also have to affect the immune system. I don't believe there is any substantial evidence for it, beyond a few Scientists making a biased claim. Autism has got nothing to do with sickness, in any case. Autism is also very common, and so are auto-immune disorders. So, of course, you will find many autistic people with one of these disorders, but probably no more so than in the population at large. Also, while autism is very common, we are still a minority, and so this alone might explain why it is incredibly common to have both autism and an auto-immune disorder!.

Not all Science is correct. As a woman of reason, I always have my own view on everything, and this is my reasoned view. Incidentally, I also don't believe Baron-Cohen's Testosterone theory, but I will leave that for another day.

It's quite interesting to know this.

I could do with some help with both issues. Need to sort my head out and go back to the GP's.

Cheers.

my little girl is 2.5 and she grinds her teeth and she is autistic i think its just part of it i,m still learning myself xxx

Regarding Geographic Tongue, there's a high correlation between Autistic spectrum disorders and auto-immune system disorders (which it appears Geographic Tongue might be a form of).

It's only a correlation, so, having an autistic spectrum disorder doesn't imply that you will have an auto-immune disorder, nor does having an auto-immune disorder imply that you will have an autistic spectrum disorder.

But having an autistic spectrum disorder means you're more likely to also have an auto-immune system disorder.

I have both Asperger's Syndrome and Crohn's Disease (a chronic inflamatory bowel condition), just as an example.