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Happy Pride all!

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This week’s podcast is dedicated to the “T” in LGBTQ –  trans.  Several studies over the past few years have linked higher rates of gender variance in people with autism and higher rates of autism traits in those who are trans.  Why?  Are they biologically or psychologically linked or both?  This is important for understanding, not treatment or intervention.  This week’s podcast celebrates trans people who are also autistic.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30547258

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29752630

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30920347

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23864402

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Just listen to Nancy Reagan: say NO to MDMA

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This week’s podcast begins with a comment on the debate over ABA, helpful or harmful?  But the big news this week is an analysis of very early, but very published data, on the use of MDMA, or “ecstasy” or “Molly” in people with autism.  Called an “empathogen”, MDMA can elicit feelings of warmth, love and need to cuddle.  However, it has a dark side. MDMA is a neurotoxin.  It kills serotonergic brain cells.  There is no known safe dose.  Researchers studied and found weak evidence that it reduces social anxiety in people with autism.  Social anxiety isn’t a core symptom of autism and thank you to Larry Scahill at Emory University to provided an expert description of each.  While we will not comment on every negative study out there, this one is worth noting.  When someone offers you MDMA, JUST SAY NO.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30196397