Dumb Science News: Prozac in Water Gives Fish Autism


You know what causes autism this week?  Antidepressants in the water supply! 

How do we know this?  Fish genes!

Researchers put antidepressants Prozac and Effexor, as well as antiseizure drug Tegratol into water tanks of minnows. Tests showed that the same genes turned on in people with autism were also triggered in the fish after exposure, according to a study published in the journal PLoS ONE.

The findings suggest that small amounts of psychiatric medications found in the drinking supply may be a cause of autism, the researchers said. Psychiatric drugs have been linked to autism-like symptoms in studies of rats exposed to the medicines, according to the study.

I keep wondering what an autistic fish would act like.

Mr. Limpet?

Click here to see.

Glub.