This week I’d like to talk about the depiction of autism in the 1999 romantic comedy film ‘The Other Sister‘, starring Juliette Lewis and Diane Keaton.
Fun fact– Juliette Lewis also appeared in another film featuring an autistic character, ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.’
So what’s the film about?
The film centres around mildly mentally disabled Carla Tate who has lived a sheltered life in a private school. Upon graduation, she returns home to her overprotective mother determined to earn a diploma from a local technical university so that she can become a veterinary assistant and establish her independence. Whilst at college, she meets and falls in love with Danny (who is also mentally disabled), and seeing his independent life, she further advocates for her own life and an apartment, much to the chagrin of her oftentimes controlling mother.
As a story, I enjoyed it. It was a wholesome romantic comedy that broke the mould at the time by featuring a mentally disabled couple at it’s core, showing that neurodivergents, despite our differences, want to have ordinary romantic relationships like everyone else. However, the film largely received negative views for the acting (Juliette Lewis was nominated for a Razzie for her performance) and shameless use of disability as a gimmick.
In terms of autism, this was a fairly run of the mill affair, standard stereotypical traits, but unlike the critics I found their depiction fairly inoffensive compared with other more stereotyped examples.
All in all, while not the most relatable depiction of autism when compared with other romantic movies featuring autistic couples (like ‘Mozart and the Whale‘), the film is still worth a watch 🙂
In continuation of my previous post about weighted blankets for autists, this week I’d like to discuss another weighted item- weighted plushies!
I’ve always had a fondness for soft and cuddly bears (gotta love that texture 😉 ) so when I found out that they made weighted plushies I just had to give it a whirl! I bought Sleepy the Sloth (or as he’s been renamed in our house Séamus the Sloth, which we thought suited him better) on Amazon a couple of weeks ago to see how I fared.
My sister had some fun staging him one night while I was out at a concert 😂
But first things first, what exactly is a weighted plushie?
A similar product to weighted blankets, weighted plushies are filled with beads or pellets instead of conventional stuffing to exert calming deep pressure to the skin to mimic the effect of a hug. Weighted plushies are usually much lighter than weighted blankets (Séamus is 1.5kg and my current blanket is 7kg) so they are a much more portable option when on the go with a child with autism. There are also heatable versions that you can put in the microwave so you have the double whammy of soothing weight and heat. Disney have even launched a line of weighted plushies so your favourite characters can be used for sensory relief! 😀
So how does it work?
Like weighted blankets, research is limited but they seem to work through the same mechanism. As I’ve discussed previously, autists have higher levels of stimulatory neurotransmitters and lower levels of calming neurotransmitters, meaning that our brains are more “switched on” and harder to turn off than most. The deep pressure exerted by the plushie is designed to stimulate the release of the calming neurotransmitters serotonin (which helps regulate the sleep cycle and temperature) and dopamine to relax and soothe the racing mind. It’s also thought that deep pressure can stimulate the limbic system, the emotional centre of the brain, which could potentially help calm you down during a meltdown.
So how did I get on?
Aside from all the fun we’ve had playing with Séamus, he really provides a lovely sensory experience. It’s reminiscent of having a sleeping puppy on your chest when you drape him round your neck, (minus the warmth, wriggling and gentle snuffling sounds). You get that same sense of calm wash over you like with the weighted blanket, so it’s great for when you’re sitting watching TV or travelling and need something less cumbersome. However, a plushie does not cover the entire body, so it doesn’t quite have that same fully enveloping sense of relaxation that comes from being completely covered by a weighted blanket.
All in all I would highly recommend giving a weighted plushie a try, but they can be a little pricey, so if you’re buying it for a child be sure to involve them in the decision in case they don’t like the animal/character you intend buying.
As it’s been a few years since my first post about celebrities with autism, I’ve decided to write a follow up post to discuss some other celebrities who have since discussed their experiences of autism.
Sia
Australian pop star Sia recently divulged that she was on the spectrum, 2 years after her film ‘Music‘ received backlash for it’s depiction of autism and casting of neurotypical Maddie Ziegler as a nonverbal autist. She did not admit to being on the spectrum at the time, but said that the film was based on the experiences of a neurodivergent friend (I must check out this film for a future post).
Sia has said of her diagnosis:
“For 45 years, I was like, ‘I’ve got to go put my human suit on’, and only in the last two years have I become fully, fully myself.”
SirAnthony Hopkins
Two-time Oscar winning Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in 2014 when he was in his late 70s! The actor is quite dismissive of his autism status, calling neurodiversity a “fancy label” and says that he doesn’t feel very different after the diagnosis. He has said that autism impacts his ability to socially interact, but it also makes him quite focused which helps him in his acting career:
“I definitely look at people differently. I like to deconstruct, to pull a character apart, to work out what makes them tick and my view will not be the same as everyone else. I get offered a lot of controlling parts, maybe because that’s how people see me. And maybe I am very controlled because I’ve had to be. I don’t question it, I just take the parts because I’m an actor and that’s what I do.”
Elon Musk
Eccentric billionaire businessman Elon Musk has openly talked about his Aspergers diagnosis and how he was bullied as a child for being different, often struggling with social cues and literal thinking. His diagnosis has never held him back however, as he is now one of the wealthiest men in the world, and even became the first autistic host of Saturday Night Live (or at least the first person to admit it!). He often credits his brain as the driving force behind his success as his intense focus fuelled his specialist interest in science and technology, often spending entire nights happily programming on his computer.
Here’s a video of him talking about his experiences of autism:
Hannah Gadsby
Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby was diagnosed with autism in her late 20’s after a lifetime of struggling to fit in. She openly talks about her diagnosis in her comedy- a great way to both educate and help people see the lighter side of the spectrum. Here’s a clip from one of her Netflix specials:
Prison Break (remember that show? There’s a throwback!) and Legends of Tomorrow actor Wentworth Miller was diagnosed with autism during the pandemic in 2020 in his late 40s. He announced his diagnosis in 2021 on Instagram, telling the world of his struggles to get a formal diagnosis and how he is slowly educating himself on the world of autism.
Of his diagnosis Miller said:
“This isn’t something I’d change … immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I’ve achieved/articulated.”
Dan Harmon
Writer and creator of shows like Community and Rick and Morty, Dan Harmon has self-diagnosed himself with Aspergers syndrome. When creating the character of Abed in Community and researching his character traits, Dan began to realise that he may be on the spectrum himself.
You can hear him discuss his experiences in an interview here:
Melanie Sykes
UK TV presenter and former model Melanie Sykes was diagnosed with autism in 2021 in her early 50s.
“I cannot begin to tell you the sense of relief this is for me and how much I celebrate this diagnosis.I now have a deeper understanding of myself, my life and the things I have endured.”
“I am wired a completely different way and I’m only just understanding it. Where I used to think ‘what’s wrong with me?’ now I know it’s everything that’s right with me.”
You can read more about her experiences in her book Illuminated: Autism & All The Things I’ve Left Unsaid and in the interview below:
Stephanie Preissner
Irish author and screenwriter Stephanie Preissner was diagnosed with autism in 2021 at the age of 34. She had always suspected that something was wrong, but never thought she might be autistic as the male experience fed to us in the media did not match her experiences (been there!). She had always done well in school with it’s structures and routines, but her mental health started to suffer in college as expectations were less clear. You can listen to a short interview with Stephanie about her experiences here:
BlindboyBoatclub
Now most of my international readers will not have heard of Blindboy Boatclub (one half of the Irish comedy hip hop duo The Rubberbandits) but his autism story is an interesting one. But before I get into it, for those of you wondering about his bizarre appearance, the podcaster, author and TV presenter famously wears plastic shopping bags on his face to conceal his identity 🤣. Blindboy was diagnosed with autism in his 30s following comments on his podcast from his neurodivergent listeners who remarked on how many of his worldviews aligned with their experiences of autism. Without his podcast, who knows if he would ever have been diagnosed! You can listen to his podcast talking about his diagnosis here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/intrapersonally-speaking/id1300577518?i=1000557413083
Just so my international readers can get an understanding of The Rubberbandits, here’s a video of their most popular parody from the peak of their fame:
Christine McGuinness
British model and TV personality Christine McGuinness was diagnosed with autism at the age of 33 having struggled throughout her teenage years, allowing her to finally understand why she is the way she is. Her 3 children are also autistic. She now advocates for greater visibility for women on the spectrum which you can see. in the video below:
Eminem
Chart topping rapper Eminem may also be on the spectrum. He has not openly discussed a formal diagnosis, but he has mentioned having Asperger’s syndrome in a couple of his songs which are famously influenced by his real life. He talks about Asperger’s in the opening lines of his 2013 song ‘Wicked Ways‘:
In interviews Eminem has talked about being very shy and awkward as a kid, often feigning illness to skip school so that he could stay home reading, writing poetry and drawing comic book characters.
It has also been suggested (but no confirmed diagnosis) that Vladamir Putin, Donald Trump, Lionel Messi and Bob Dylan also seem to demonstrate a number of autistic traits. Following the release of Christopher Nolan’s gripping biopic Oppenheimer, there has also been a lot of renewed speculation that the renowned physicist Robert Oppenheimer may also have been on the spectrum.
This week I’d like to discuss the topic of diabetes and how it can be linked to autism.
But before we get into that, what is diabetes?
In the body, the hormone insulin is produced by our friend the pancreas (in the image above) to control the absorption of sugar into our cells. Diabetes mellitus is a condition where blood sugar levels are uncontrolled due to insufficient insulin production. Elevated blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can cause a range of health issues such as nerve damage in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy), permanent damage to eyesight (diabetic retinopathy) and life threatening ketoacidosis (where substances called ketones build up in the body making blood more acidic).
There are a few different types of diabetes:
Type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes– this occurs when the pancreas ceases to produce insulin (caused by the immune system attacking insulin producing β cells) leading to high blood sugar levels. Replacement insulin must be injected to keep blood sugar levels stable.
Type 2 diabetes– occurs when the body develops insulin resistance so insulin is no longer able to control blood sugar levels. It usually occurs in adulthood as a result of poor diet, obesity and lack of physical exercise
Gestational diabetes– this type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy in women who have never previously had diabetes. It usually goes away following birth of the baby, but does increase your risk for type 2 diabetes in later life
That’s great Aoife, but what has all this got to do with autism?
Research suggests that idividuals with autism may have a 57% higher risk of developing diabetes compared with their neurotypical peers; specifically the risk is roughly 64% higher for type 1 diabetes, and a whopping 146% higher for type 2 diabetes!
So why are autists more susceptible?
In the case of type 1 diabetes, as I’ve previously discussed, autists tend to have an overactive immune system (likely due to genetic mutation) which could be damaging the pancreas preventing insulin production. Research has also found that type 1 diabetic mothers are at a higher risk for giving birth to an autistic child as it’s thought that autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes produce antibodies that can attack the developing brain in the womb. Similarly, gestational diabetes has been linked to a slightly increased risk in the development of autism and ADHD due to exposure to high blood glucose levels in utero.
The massive type 2 link on the other hand has a lot more to do with lifestyle. Sensory processing issues relating to food can lead to quite a restrictive diet. This diet is often high in sugar which may lead to type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Some autists with ADHD also have impulsive issues with over-eating for sensory stimulation, while others struggle with insatiable hunger (polyphagia), especially those with co-morbid Prader–Willi syndrome. Physical limitations due to co-morbid issues like of dyspraxia can also reduce and limit physical activity increasing the risk for diabetes. In addition, some studies have found genetic links to autism and weight gain which further compound this risk.
As with all things in life, just because there is an increased risk does not mean that the disease will manifest, but it’s useful to be aware of the risk nonetheless.
This week I’d like to talk about something that isn’t normally discussed in relation to autism- headaches and migraines.
Anyone can get headaches or migraines, but it appears that there is a link between autism and their frequency , with one study even suggesting that autistic children are twice as likely to experience migraines when compared with neurotypicals. Further studies are required to confirm comorbidity, but the studies that do exist suggest a lot of overlap.
So have they any idea why there is a link?
One of the most popular theories suggests that issues in sensory processing may make autists more susceptible to headaches and migraines. For both autists and migraine sufferers, differences in sensory processing can impair how the brain registers and modulates responses to sensory stimuli like light and sound which can trigger migraines following a sensory overload. There are a lot of structural changes in the brains of both autists and migraine patients which could further explain this sensitivity.
Research has also reported that autists have altered pain sensitivity which can distort their perception of headaches, so, what might be an ignorable ache in a neurotypical individual may be much more severe for an autist.
Interestingly, there may also be a link between headaches/migraines and our digestive health. The gut is innervated by a network of nerves known as the enteric nervous system, often nicknamed a second brain. Migraines are often co-morbid with gastrointestinal problems where issues in the second brain can influence changes in the main brain via the brain-gut axis. GI issues are frequently co-morbid with autism so this could be the most logical explanation for the link. I know I’ve certainly triggered migraines from eating things that didn’t agree with me, only to have the migraine immediately dissipate the minute my stomach hit the ejector button! 😂
Migraines have also been linked to low levels of serotonin in the brain. As previously discussed, serotonin levels are dysregulated in autists so this could also explain the link. This is particularly interesting as 95% of serotonin production occurs in the gut, so this further indicates a gut related link to headaches and migraines in autism.
Joint hypermobility could also be contributing to headaches. People with connective tissue disorders like Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS) frequently experience headaches. Weakness in supporting tissues like collagen can cause instability in the neck and spine which can pinch nerves, interrupting the flow of blood to the brain and triggering headaches and migraines. As joint hypermobility can be co-morbid with autism, this could further explain the link.
As with many aspects of the spectrum, susceptibility to headaches and migraines could also be genetic as there is an overlap in some genes linked to both autism and migraines.
This week I’d like to talk to you about an exciting new book for autistic teenagers- ‘Freya Harte is not a Puzzle‘ by up and coming Irish author Méabh Collins. The book centres on 14 year old Freya Harte who has just received an autism diagnosis and details her experiences as she comes to terms with it.
Having read an article about this book and it’s author Méabh (she and I are the same age and interestingly also diagnosed at the same age!) I was very excited to read it. Finally- a book about a teenage girl with autism written by a fellow autist! Best of all, Freya is coming up through the Irish education system- just the kind of book my teenage self could have related to.
So what did I make of it?
Author Méabh Collins
Quite frankly, I couldn’t put the book down! Freya’s experiences of autism were so similar to my own (apart from the timeline on the diagnosis), I really connected with her. Her literal thinking, the constant battle to fit in with her peers, the struggles to keep the tears at bay, the solace of the confined bathroom stall- it all hit very close to home. One of the things I most liked about the book was how Méabh gave us a genuine insight into the workings of the autistic mind and the issues we can have with twisted logic. For example, Freya struggles with an eating disorder because she read an article about foods for a healthy brain and thought that if she changed her diet drastically, maybe her brain would be more normal. She also gets up really early on a Saturday and takes the Luas into Dublin city to buy a Disney magazine far away from where anyone she may know might catch her buying it so that her peers don’t judge her for her specialist interest. It seems a bit daft when you read it, but these are the kind of logical decisions/conclusions the autistic mind makes- there’s method in the perceived madness!
This book gives great insight into how we work and I would highly recommend it for any teachers, parents or friends who are trying to support a woman through an autism diagnosis. No two autists are the same, but it’s a very good starting point to help you to understand what our minds go through on a day to day basis, how we see the world and rationalize every aspect of our day. Méabh deliberately took the approach of focusing on autism from the inside out. No stereotypical savants, no tricks or exaggerations for dramatic/comedic effect; just a nuanced exploration of the female autistic experience so that the reader can begin to understand how and why we think the way we do.
Understanding goes a long way to helping an autist, so this book is a must read for anyone who knows a woman with autism and would like an insight into the autistic mind.
This week I’d like to discuss a potentially autistic character in the classic 90’s ‘Wayne’s World‘ films- Garth Algar played by Dana Carvey.
In case you’ve never seen Wayne’s World, the films are centred round metal loving best friends Wayne and Garth who have their own comedy public access TV show in Aurora, Illinois, often getting into weird and wacky situations. The duo are perhaps most famous for re-popularizing Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the 1990s in this iconic scene:
So where does autism come in?
While autism is never explicitly mentioned and little was relatively known about the condition at the time of filming, many have retrospectively concluded that Garth is quite likely on the autistic spectrum. A shy, awkward and uncoordinated nerd, Garth actively avoids eye contact (except with the camera), doesn’t like touching, often misses social cues and can be very literal in his thinking and resistant to change.
His iconic exchange with Kim Basinger, “So, would you like to have dinner one night? Garth: Oh, I like to have dinner every night“; is a classic Asperger’s moment. He also is very into his specialist interests like electronics and heavy metal, and has a wild imagination like many autists.
Here’s a clip from ‘Wayne’s World 2‘ which really showcases Garth’s awkwardness, mind blindness and literal thinking:
Interestingly, despite not intentionally seeking to depict autism, many autists consider Garth to be a very positive portrayal of the condition. Garth is seen as a little bit quirky, but is fully accepted by his friends. He has a job, a social life, and even manages to bag himself a couple of girlfriends. These are all “normal” positive things, the real lived experience of many of us late diagnosis autists. Too often in media portrayals of autism the characters are depicted as othered and often incapable of living independently, even today, so for films this old to have such a positive approach to neurodivergents is pleasantly refreshing.
This week I’d like to discuss how the immune system can contribute to autism through inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Really Aoife? I thought the immune system was supposed to protect me from illness and repair the body after injuries?
Yes- ordinarily the immune system functions to protect and heal us from injury and disease, however, dysfunctions in the immune system can cause serious health issues. There are three main categories of immune dysfunction:
Immunodeficiency– where one or more parts of the immune system are inactive
Autoimmunity– where an overactive immune system is unable to tell the difference between the cells of the body and foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. This leads to autoimmune disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis) where the immune system attacks healthy cells causing disease
Hypersensitivity– similar to autoimmunity where the immune system triggers an undesirable allergic reaction (like asthma and anaphylaxis) which attacks the cells of the body
So how does the immune system relate to autism?
A number have studies have highlighted that abnormal immune system activation could be playing a role in the development of autism. Inflammation is the body’s natural defense against foreign invaders. When the body is under attack from an infection for example, it starts to release pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines which triggers inflammation to start the battle. Once the threat has passed, an anti-inflammatory response begins to cool the body back down. This heating/cooling cycle doesn’t always run smoothly for some people leading to persistent inflammation which over time can cause damage to the body. Studies have shown that autists frequently show signs of widespread inflammation, often having high levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals. Postmortem brain samples in particular have shown evidence of enhanced immune activity suggesting that an overactive immune system may be contributing to the autistic brain.
There are also some studies that suggest autists are producing antibodies that attack their own brains- I know I’m my own worst enemy, but that is next level! 😛
Researchers believe that abnormal immune activity during pregnancy in particular could be a contributory factor in autism. Studies have noted that many women that have an autoimmune disease (such as lupus, psoriasis, diabetes etc.) also have a child with autism leading them to this potential link. It’s thought that pregnant women with autoimmune diseases produce antibodies that attack the baby’s brain as the immune system falsely identifies the baby as a foreign invader which can potentially cause autism and ADHD. Moreover, inflammation during pregnancy is also thought to interfere with the development of folds in the brain.
But is there any explanation as to why immune activity is abnormal in autism?
As with most things linked to autism, it’s likely that this activity has a genetic source. A number of the genes that have been linked to autism are also involved with the immune system, so mutations in these genes could explain the correlation.
This week I’d like to discuss another lesser known comorbidity with autism- joint hypermobility.
So what exactly is joint hypermobility?
It’s a pretty self-explanatory condition where joints have a larger range of motion than normal, more commonly referred to as being “double jointed”. The tissue connecting joints is much more stretchy so joints are highly flexible. This is usually caused by weak collagen- the main protein that makes up connective tissues that provide support in the body such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone etc.
Lots of people have hypermobile joints, but some may have hypermobility disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) which negatively effects connective tissues. There are 13 types of EDS, each with different symptoms, but the most common type is hypermobile EDS with symptoms including painful and clicking joints, excessive bruising, digestive issues, unstable joints and thin stretchy skin. 8% of autists are estimated to have EDS, with even more estimated to have other types of hypermobility disorders. As both of these conditions are assessed by different types of doctors, it’s possible the co-occurrence rate is much higher than we realise.
In my own experience, I’ve always known that I was highly flexible, but I’d never considered that this might not be “normal”. My English teacher once looked at me recoiling in horror as I stared back confused and oblivious. Apparently my thumbs were freaking him out as I’m able to bend them backwards- something that I thought everyone was able to do!
Here’s a closer illustration for context:
I haven’t thought much of my joints for years, but recently both my physiotherapist and chiropractor described them as hypermobile. This seemingly has contributed to many injuries over the years- I’m currently dealing with a “wandering kneecap” among other things 😂. Lo and behold, a few weeks later I came across a study linking hypermobility to ASD’s and ADHD!
So how are the conditions linked?
Again, as with most aspects of the spectrum the link remains unclear, however, it does appear to be genetic. Hypermobility disorders are highly hereditary with 20% of mothers experiencing hypermobility reporting that they have an autistic child. A recent study compared the genes known to be related to hypermobility and autism and found that there was a lot of overlap between these genes and the pathways they interact with which likely explains why the two conditions are co-morbid. Immune system dysregulation has also been linked to both conditions, particularly during pregnancy (I will discuss the immune link to autism in more detail in a later post).
So there you have it, lot’s of autists are highly flexible- which is kind of ironic given how inflexible we can be in other areas of our lives 😜🤣
This week I’d like to discuss a little more unusual- the participation of autists in clinical research and trials.
Now before we get into this post, I’d like to preface things by reiterating my stance from previous posts that autism is not something to be “cured”, but that being said, pharmaceutical interventions can be useful in the treatment of conditions that are co-morbid with autism such as OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, GI issues etc., not to mention every day illness, so research participation can be highly beneficial for autists.
So what exactly is clinical research and why do we need it?
In a nutshell, clinical research is a branch of medicine that determines the safety and efficacy of treatments intended for use in humans. It differs from lab based research in that human volunteers are involved to advance our knowledge of health and medicine- most of the studies that I refer to in my posts would be classified under clinical research. Research is split into two branches:
Observational studies -where groups are observed/monitored to gather health data
Clinical trials/interventional studies– where a treatment/drug is administered to a group of volunteers to assess its safety and efficacy. Depending on the trial phase the volunteers may be healthy or target patients for the drug/treatment
Human studies are the only way to truly determine drug safety and efficacy prior to marketing, so clinical research is essential to the advancement of medicine. Diversity in clinical investigations is particularly important as it allows us to better predict potential patient outcomes after treatment roll out. Historically speaking, trials were not particularly diverse and didn’t always cater to target patients. Many trials were subject to gender bias with males dominating the data- there were even breast and uterine cancer studies conducted exclusively on males! We now understand the importance of enrolling biologically diverse groups, hence autists participation in clinical research could be greatly beneficial.
But clinical research can be daunting for anxious autists, not just at the prospect of poor outcomes and side effects, but there are many barriers that may make participation difficult for an autist. There are often a lot of sensory challenges in the clinical setting with bright fluorescent lights, strong smells from medicines and cleaning products, alarms and noises from medical devices etc. which would need to be addressed by clinical staff when enrolling autists in studies. Co-morbid ADHD can also be an issue as autists may find it difficult to pay attention during visits and may become distracted by their surroundings making it difficult to collect data. Similarly ADHD can also impact patients motivation and interest in the trial which can make it tougher to get them to stick with it. Autists also often have difficulty with taking medicines on a sensory level so non-compliance with any treatment regimes will not generate usable data for investigators.
Many of these barriers can be overcome through environmental modifications, frequent breaks and adequate educational and emotional support during research studies. If clinicians and autism advocates work together to make research more accessible for autists, who knows what good may come in future clinical investigations!
A Is For Aoife Not Autism 