RFK Jr vows to uncover autism cause by September

RFK Jr Plans Extensive Research to Identify Autism Causes

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced a comprehensive testing and research initiative to determine the root causes of autism within five months.

Experts have expressed skepticism, noting that uncovering the causes of autism spectrum disorder, a complex condition studied for many years, will be challenging. They criticized the effort as misguided and unrealistic.

Kennedy, known for promoting discredited theories linking autism to vaccines, stated during a cabinet meeting that the research effort in the US will involve hundreds of scientists worldwide. He aims to identify the causes of the autism epidemic by September and eliminate the contributing factors.

The prevalence of autism diagnoses has surged since 2000, with the rate among 8-year-olds reaching 2.77% by 2020, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Scientists attribute part of this increase to heightened awareness and a broader definition of the disorder. They have also been exploring environmental influences.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocates over $300m annually to autism research. The NIH lists potential risk factors such as prenatal exposure to pesticides or air pollution, premature birth, maternal health issues, and advanced parental age.

Kennedy did not provide specifics about the research project or the funding allocated for autism research.

Since taking office two months ago, the former environmental attorney has reduced the budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the NIH, CDC, and other health agencies responsible for food and drug safety and disease research.

In an interview with Fox News, Kennedy mentioned that the research scope will encompass vaccines and various other factors like the food system, water, air quality, parenting practices, and other potential triggers for the autism epidemic.

The Autism Society of America criticized Kennedy's plan as harmful, misleading, and unfeasible. The society emphasized that autism is not a chronic illness or a contagious condition.

The society's president, Christopher Banks, raised concerns about the transparency of the research efforts and disputed the notion that autism is solely caused by environmental factors, labeling such claims as misleading theories that perpetuate stigma and pose risks to public health.