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Weekly · Sunday Morning

Five longevity claims.
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Rapamycin extends mouse lifespan 9–14%
NAD+ precursors reverse aging in humans
Blue-light glasses improve sleep quality
Walking 10 min after meals blunts glucose
Verdict change — caffeine half-life downgraded

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The Causes & Treatments for Autism | Dr. Karen Parker — Whalespan

Content›Video›The Causes & Treatments for …

The Causes & Treatments for Autism | Dr. Karen Parker

Andrew Huberman2h 56m · 2023-12-11

Claims Made

253

Claims Supported

140

Support Rate

55%

Support rate

140 of 253 claims supported

140 supported113 partial / not

Claims from this content

137

✓Well SupportedAG1 is a vitamin, mineral, probiotic drink with adaptogens designed to meet foundational nutritional needs and provide insurance for adequate fruit and vegetable intake.✓Well SupportedBody temperature must drop by 1-3 degrees Fahrenheit to fall and stay deeply asleep, and must increase by 1-3 degrees Fahrenheit to wake up refreshed.✓Well SupportedAn Eight Sleep mattress cover can improve sleep by increasing speed of falling asleep, reducing nighttime awakenings, and enhancing feelings of refreshment upon waking.✓Well SupportedAndrew Huberman dissolves one packet of Element in 16-32 ounces of water upon waking and during exercise for hydration and electrolyte intake.Well Supported

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A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

✓

Element is an electrolyte drink containing sodium, magnesium, and potassium without sugar.

✓Well SupportedQuality sleep, regulated by core body temperature changes, is foundational for mental health, physical health, and performance.

✓Well SupportedSmart mattress covers can be programmed to maintain a specific sleep temperature, which aids in falling asleep, achieving deep sleep, and REM sleep.

◐Partially SupportedAG1 offers a welcome kit with five free travel packs and a free bottle of vitamin D3 K2 with purchases made through drinkag1.com/huberman.

✓Well SupportedInfants who later received an autism diagnosis had lower cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin levels.

✓Well SupportedAutism is highly heritable, estimated at 85-90%, with underlying genetic factors potentially differing among affected children.

✓Well SupportedQuality nutrition positively influences physical health, mental health, and cognitive functions.

✓Well SupportedAndrew Huberman intentionally delays coffee consumption for 90-120 minutes after waking.

✓Well SupportedThe frequency of autism diagnoses is 1 in 36 US children.

✓Well SupportedElement's chocolate medley can be mixed with hot water for hydration and electrolyte replenishment in cold, dry weather.

✓Well SupportedIntranasal vasopressin administration is being explored as an intervention for autism.

✓Well SupportedPsilocybin is being pursued for its capacity to treat major depressive disorder by rewiring neural circuits.

✓Well SupportedIn prairie voles, vasopressin administration can induce monogamous pair bonding and paternal behavior.

✓Well SupportedThe synthetic heroin MPTP caused parkinsonism in primates and humans by ablating dopamine cells, but not in mice.

◐Partially SupportedAntidepressants can open a window for neuroplasticity by changing neuromodulator levels.

◐Partially SupportedVasopressin administration improves symptoms in children with low vasopressin levels and low social functioning.

◐Partially SupportedVasopressin may be a key pathway in the brain that, when dysregulated, contributes to autism, potentially through reduced social interest and eye contact.

◐Partially SupportedThe Aeropress coffee maker produces a superior tasting cup of coffee compared to other brewing methods.

◐Partially SupportedMouse models of neurogenetic syndromes with social impairment show reduced oxytocin levels in the hypothalamus.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA causes massive increases in serotonin, which is believed to be its primary mechanism of action.

◐Partially SupportedThere are no medications currently approved to treat the core features of autism.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin release in mothers is stimulated by nursing, nipple contact, and skin-to-skin contact with their infant.

◐Partially SupportedIncreasing gut microbiota diversity upregulates gene expression and action of oxytocin and vasopressin in the hypothalamus via the vagal pathway.

◐Partially SupportedLower circulating oxytocin levels are observed in typically developing children with social functioning deficits.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals who may produce less oxytocin might benefit most from oxytocin treatment.

◐Partially SupportedAmphetamines like Adderall, Vyvanse, and methylphenidate induce dopamine and norepinephrine release.

✓Well SupportedVasopressin was critical for male social behavior in studies from the early to mid-1990s.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin is involved in milk letdown, pair bonding, and parent-child bonding.

◐Partially SupportedLip smacking is an affiliative gesture in macaques used to elicit attention or positive response.

◐Partially SupportedPsilocybin and MDMA may be used to rewire the brain, potentially increasing oxytocin and serotonin levels.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin administration to males may have peripheral effects beyond avoiding milk letdown and uterine contractions.

◐Partially SupportedDeveloping a primate model of naturally occurring social impairments could help understand autism.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with normal to high baseline blood oxytocin levels showed little benefit from oxytocin treatment.

◐Partially SupportedNasal spray vasopressin enters the brain's blood circulation and supplies neurons.

◐Partially SupportedAnecdotal reports suggest children show positive social behavior changes after taking vasopressin.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin levels are difficult to measure accurately.

◐Partially SupportedParents of autistic children may consider oxytocin to induce neuroplasticity during a limited window, even if benefits are not definitively proven.

◐Partially SupportedAlzheimer's disease may be a metabolic disorder.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin is being investigated as a potential therapy for autism based on early research.

◐Partially SupportedAlcohol acts as an antagonist to vasopressin, and other drugs may interact with vasopressin.

◐Partially SupportedThe frequency of early prenatal ultrasounds may be correlated with more frequent incidents of autism based on mouse model studies.

◐Partially SupportedSpinal taps for CSF collection are feasible as outpatient procedures in humans.

✕Not SupportedThe hypothesis that vaccines cause autism has been debunked, and Andrew Wakefield lost his medical license due to data fabrication.

✕Not SupportedThe use of vasopressin for treating autism is being studied in controlled clinical trials due to the potential for severe adverse effects if not dosed appropriately.

✕Not SupportedA phase three oxytocin treatment trial showed no benefit for autism treatment.

✕Not SupportedMultiple studies have not shown a correlation between vaccination and autism.

◐Partially SupportedIt is important to determine if oxytocin administration has negative effects in children with autism who do not benefit from the treatment.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin is relatively safe in the pediatric population.

◐Partially SupportedEarly autism screening and intervention are crucial and should be made as available and inexpensive as possible.

◐Partially SupportedPeptides can act as switches to activate latent brain circuitry.

◐Partially SupportedThe brain is located behind the bone where the nose meets the forehead, allowing for direct access via nasal administration.

◐Partially SupportedCurrent autism diagnostic processes are not scalable due to the limited number of highly trained specialists.

◐Partially SupportedUsing a vagal nerve stimulator clipped onto the ear could be tested in autistic individuals to see if it alters social behavior and blood levels of oxytocin and vasopressin.

◐Partially SupportedSocial isolation or the loss of a loved one is a strong predictor for the onset of stress-related depressive and anxiety disorders.

✕Not SupportedVasopressin administration can affect blood pressure and requires appropriate dosing due to potential for severe adverse effects.

✕Not SupportedBlood oxytocin levels are not a reliable marker to differentiate individuals with autism from those without autism.

◐Partially SupportedHaving one child with autism increases the risk of subsequent children also having autism.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin decreases the stress axis and can diminish anxiety.

◐Partially SupportedMost scientists and medical doctors in the standard biomedical research community do not believe vaccines cause autism, vaccinate their own children, and recommend vaccinations.

◐Partially SupportedMonkeys that spend a lot of time alone exhibit autistic-like traits, diminished social motivation, and reduced grooming.

◐Partially SupportedStem cell and organoid research may allow for disease progress without needing to study whole animal models.

◐Partially SupportedResearchers identified monkeys with features resembling human autism, characterized by lower social affiliation, to model the condition.

✕Not SupportedA 'shotgun approach' to oxytocin administration for autism is not advisable if there is a risk profile that does not justify its widespread use.

◐Partially SupportedConditions like Fragile X and Timothy Syndrome can present with autism-like symptoms and associated physiological issues.

◐Partially SupportedScientists are beginning to investigate if immune issues could be driving autism in some individuals.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin and vasopressin are two neuropeptides relevant to social communication and behavior in autism.

◐Partially SupportedThalidomide caused severe limb abnormalities in humans because its safety testing was only conducted in mice, not in marmosets or cynomolgus monkeys.

◐Partially SupportedTo develop medications that are safe, well-tolerated, and effective in humans, especially for complex traits like social cognition, testing should be conducted in species that also possess complex social cognition, such as primates.

◐Partially SupportedLower 'dosing' of common genetic variants may correlate with higher functioning in individuals on the autism spectrum, while single-gene, high-penetrant disorders can lead to severe intellectual disability and lower functioning.

◐Partially SupportedPrimate brains, with their more elaborate frontal cortex, may be better models than rodent brains for studying complex cognitive functions.

◐Partially SupportedThe vast majority of studies do not show a relationship between vaccination and autism.

◐Partially SupportedThe vasopressin V1a receptor is most implicated in social behavior.

◐Partially SupportedBlocking oxytocin receptors in the brain prevents maternal bonding with offspring in sheep and goats.

?Limited ResearchThe precise timing and mechanism of vasopressin's effects on social engagement in children with autism are not yet known.

?Limited ResearchIt is uncertain whether oxytocin is an effective treatment for a subset of individuals with autism.

◐Partially SupportedAutism can now be reliably diagnosed in children at 2 to 3 years of age, compared to 9 to 10 years of age in the past.

◐Partially SupportedFecal transplants have been used in humans for the treatment of obesity and other conditions.

◐Partially SupportedVasopressin is manufactured in the hypothalamus and released throughout the brain, with receptors found widely across the brain.

◐Partially SupportedGenetically defined subgroups are needed to test gene-by-environment interactions and medication efficacy in autism.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals with autism can also present with anxiety, sensory challenges, seizure disorders, and sleep disorders.

◐Partially SupportedInterventions like psilocybin, MDMA, and atypical antidepressants may be explored for children with autism to induce neuroplasticity.

◐Partially SupportedVaso-pressin is a more promising intervention than oxytocin for certain conditions.

◐Partially SupportedTo accurately evaluate social behavior changes in autism trials, evaluations should be conducted unaware of medication status to mitigate placebo response.

◐Partially SupportedFocusing on specific symptomology, such as social cognition deficits, may offer a therapeutic approach for multiple diseases.

◐Partially SupportedFecal transplants can rescue social deficits in mouse models of autism.

◐Partially SupportedInitial safety data suggests that intranasal vasopressin administration is likely safe.

◐Partially SupportedThe standard dose for intranasal oxytocin in autism research is 24 international units.

◐Partially SupportedTwo antipsychotic drugs approved by the FDA to treat autism can cause weight gain.

◐Partially SupportedMDMA was developed in the early 1900s, resurrected in the 1970s/80s, and is in late-phase clinical trials for PTSD.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin and ketamine nasal inhalations are being used with licensed therapists for PTSD related to relational trauma.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin replacement therapy may benefit a subset of individuals with autism, but negative trial results have hindered research.

◐Partially SupportedFecal transplants are being investigated for people with autism.

◐Partially SupportedSome individuals with autism function at a high level, possessing driver's licenses, managing relationships, and navigating life successfully, while still exhibiting some distinct traits associated with neurodivergence.

◐Partially SupportedSocial interactions are rewarding from infancy and are a core characteristic of the human species, contributing to survival.

◐Partially SupportedAutistic traits are continuously distributed across the general human population, suggesting a genetic liability underlies this continuum of behavioral traits.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin, meaning 'quick birth' in Greek, was initially appreciated only for its physiological roles before its central nervous system functions were explored.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin and vasopressin are ancient, highly conserved peptides consisting of nine amino acids that differ by only two amino acids.

◐Partially SupportedOne theory suggests that a subset of individuals with autism may lack social motivation, leading them to not focus on social cues like eyes, which are important for social communication.

◐Partially SupportedHuman infants are altricial, requiring rapid maternal bonding, unlike precocious offspring in species like sheep and goats that can run with the herd shortly after birth.

◐Partially SupportedAutism may represent a spectrum of 50 or more distinct disorders or conditions.

◐Partially SupportedThere has been a dramatic increase in the number of vaccinations children receive over the last 20-30 years.

◐Partially SupportedMales have historically been chosen for research studies more often than females, but this is changing due to NIH mandates.

◐Partially SupportedBrain circuitry can be latent and ready to be activated, with some forms of neuroplasticity involving unveiling existing circuits rather than building new ones.

◐Partially SupportedResearch on autism should include studies on females, not just males.

◐Partially SupportedA well-trained technician, rather than solely a physician, could potentially perform autism diagnostic assessments.

◐Partially SupportedMeasuring cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin levels can indicate issues with vasopressin production or function.

◐Partially SupportedFecal transplants can transfer the gut microbiome milieu.

◐Partially SupportedAutistic traits are continuously distributed across the general population.

◐Partially SupportedIntranasal oxytocin administration is a safe method for administration and testing.

◐Partially SupportedThe vagal pathway mediates the effect of gut microbiota on oxytocin and vasopressin production.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin administration can diminish the amygdala's response to fearful stimuli.

?Limited ResearchThe role of oxytocin and vasopressin in human sociality and their potential as therapeutic modulators is not well understood.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals in intense STEM fields exhibit a greater prevalence of autistic traits, even without a formal autism diagnosis.

◐Partially SupportedThere is a strong rationale for directing more funding towards logically sound hypothesis testing for autism treatment, given critical developmental windows.

◐Partially SupportedAdvanced parental age, prematurity, and maternal illness during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk for autism.

◐Partially SupportedAcupuncture may release vasopressin.

◐Partially SupportedThe vagus nerve projects to the hypothalamus where oxytocin and vasopressin are produced; severing this nerve decreased gene expression and prevented rescue of oxytocin levels and social behavior in mice.

◐Partially SupportedLow blood oxytocin levels have been observed in mouse models of autism that also exhibit abnormal gut microbiomes.

◐Partially SupportedEvolutionary selective pressure is a critical factor in understanding maternal bonding.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin is presumed to be involved in mother-infant and romantic partner bonding in humans.

◐Partially SupportedCerebral spinal fluid is the most accessible fluid for biochemical analysis of neurological illnesses.

◐Partially SupportedExcessive urination, thirst, and bedwetting in children with autism might indicate a need for vasopressin replacement.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin was historically known for its peripheral role in uterine contractions and milk letdown, while vasopressin was known for urinary output regulation and blood pressure.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals not producing sufficient vasopressin might experience a noticeable difference after vasopressin administration.

◐Partially SupportedSingle-dose administration of oxytocin or vasopressin in neurotypical individuals often does not lead to self-reported differences compared to placebo.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin and vasopressin bind to four different receptors, making it difficult to distinguish their specific actions and locations.

◐Partially SupportedSpinal fluid may be a better proxy for brain oxytocin levels than blood.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin and vasopressin are involved in social behavior and reproduction across a wide range of species.

◐Partially SupportedA small pilot trial of vasopressin in children is underway for replication in a larger sample.

◐Partially SupportedBlocking vasopressin pathways may worsen outcomes, while augmenting vasopressin signaling may improve them.

◐Partially SupportedOxytocin may be most effective in children with autism between 2-6 years old.

◐Partially SupportedVasopressin has been known as Arginine vasopressin and antidiuretic hormone.

◐Partially SupportedVasopressin may be more important than oxytocin for autism and social functioning.