Dr. Karen Parker: The Causes & Treatments for Autism

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Karen Parker, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the Social Neurosciences Research Program at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss the biology of social connections and bonding in babies, children and adults. Dr. Parker explains our current understanding of autism and autism spectrum disorders: what they are, why the incidence of autism has increased so dramatically in recent years and both the current and emerging treatments for autism. We also discuss the condition formerly called “Asperger’s.” This episode ought to be highly relevant for anyone interested in child and human development, how social bonds form, and to those curious about autism and other spectrum conditions.

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Dr. Karen Parker
Stanford academic profile: https://stan.md/3RjIkyY
Parker Lab website: https://stan.md/3NicqBV
Publications: https://stan.md/3RkO5N1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-parker-52485

Journal Articles
Prenatal exposure to ultrasound waves impacts neuronal migration in mice: https://go.hubermanlab.com/ptyyU8HyYT
Lancet retracts 12-year-old article linking autism to MMR vaccines: https://go.hubermanlab.com/dsvVI1uTYT
Mother love: what turns it on?: https://go.hubermanlab.com/pdgfu9CEYT
Intranasal oxytocin treatment for social deficits and biomarkers of response in children with autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/a8XJjHAVYT
Intranasal Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: https://go.hubermanlab.com/roEfpTB5YT
The effect of oxytocin nasal spray on social interaction in young children with autism: a randomized clinical trial: https://go.hubermanlab.com/JF1DoSnWYT
Autism-associated biomarkers: test–retest reliability and relationship to quantitative social trait variation in rhesus monkeys: https://go.hubermanlab.com/lw3BnJ47YT
Early Predictors of Impaired Social Functioning in Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta): https://go.hubermanlab.com/mGm2a7KEYT
Cerebrospinal fluid vasopressin and symptom severity in children with autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/vKY2h2EVYT
A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial shows that intranasal vasopressin improves social deficits in children with autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/CpRAxmCsYT
Probiotic Therapy with Lactobacillus reuteri Rescues Social and Emotional Recognition Behavior in an Environmental Mouse Model of Autism: https://go.hubermanlab.com/5gXuKmcXYT
Oxytocin and the microbiome: https://go.hubermanlab.com/dsP3pfl8YT
Balovaptan vs Placebo for Social Communication in Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder: https://go.hubermanlab.com/8bT6VLhWYT

Articles & Other Resources
MAPS “Can Ecstasy [MDMA] Treat Autism?”: https://maps.org/news/media/can-ecstasy-treat-autism
Dr. Robert Malenka: How Your Brain’s Reward Circuits Drive Your Choices (Huberman Lab episode): https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-robert-malenka-how-your-brains-reward-circuits-drive-your-choices
Autism Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org
Chimp Empire (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81311783

Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. Karen Parker
00:01:30 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, LMNT & Aero Press
00:06:25 Autism, Frequency, Diagnosis
00:10:41 Early Interventions; Heritability & Autistic Traits
00:13:00 Autistic Spectrums; Studying Autism
00:21:29 Environment, Risk Factors & In Utero Development
00:29:55 Sponsor: AG1
00:31:26 Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Social Behavior & Parent-Child Bonding
00:43:24 Oxytocin in Humans; Social Features of Autism, Intranasal Oxytocin
00:54:14 Sponsor: InsideTracker
00:55:16 Oxytocin & Autism; Benefit & Risks
01:06:30 Neuroplasticity & Autism; Early Intervention; Challenges of Early Diagnosis
01:14:30 MDMA & Autism
01:17:05 Vasopressin, Social Interaction; Voles & Parenthood
01:27:07 Human Social Connection, Oxytocin Levels & Autism
01:33:45 Primate Model of Social Impairment
01:42:47 Preclinical Animal Models, Mouse & Primates
01:47:11 Primates, Biomarkers & Social Connection; Vasopressin
01:52:20 Vasopressin Levels & Autism, Children & In Utero
02:03:06 Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) & Vasopressin; Urination; Alternative Therapies
02:10:32 Intranasal Vasopressin, Children, Autism & Social Responsiveness
02:19:15 Vasopressin & Social Connection, Mechanism & Future Studies
02:26:35 Gut Microbiome & Vasopressin; Scientific Funding
02:34:52 Vasopressin Pathways, Social Behavior, Autism
02:43:00 Vaccine Theory & Autism; Immunology
02:54:06 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #Science #Autism

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com

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