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RE: Action Potential - Jan 24, 2017
Fecal transplantation isn't drinking someone elses poo, its actually swallowing poop capsules (but not the poop itself persay, just the bacterial component of it). Its actually a wildly effective treatment for C. difficile infection. Microbiome contributions to a variety of other diseases is an emerging field of study, and we do know that there is a metabolic component to other neurological diseases (like parkinsons), it is not outside the realm of possibility that microbiome composition could contribute to the onset of autism. Though I remain skeptical. I go where the data goes though, so all it takes to get me on board is well designed experiments testing what they are designed to test, and convincing results.
I totally agree with you. I'm mostly trying to criticize the disproportional amount of press for a very preliminary and inconclusive study. The treatment of science in the media can have very real effects on people's behavior, but also in the way that they view science. If large groups of people start practicing something that doesn't work, or worse, has negative effects, then when the science seems to change its mind later on, that breeds distrust in the scientific community. How can science lead to truth if it is contradicting itself all the time?
Also, public hype influences where funding goes. Maybe this is a promising route, and definitely should be studied further, but maybe some other more promising research is not being funded because of it.
You seem knowledgeable about the fecal microbiota transplantation, but for other readers for a short an informative review article of fecal transplantation and its history and promise, take a look at "An overview of fecal microbiota transplantation: techniques, indications, and outcomes." The focus is on clinical practice, but it gives you a good idea of what is involved and what it has been used for. It's a few years old now, so the field has evolved a bit.
And I would add: replicable experiments (but this was maybe understood on your 'well designed').
Exactly! If it's well designed and testing what it is intended then it should also be easily repeated.