The Us Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Has Launched A “Massive Testing and Research Effort” That Will Determine “What Has Caused the Autism Epidemic” by September, Its Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr Said Thursday.
“By September, we will know what caused the autism epidemic, and we’ll be able to eliminate Those Exposures,” Kennedy Said in A Cabinet Meeting.
The Number of autism medical diagnoses in the United States has actually been climbing for years. About 1 in 36 Children Were Identified with AUTISM Spectrum Disorder in 2020. That’s up from 1 in 150 Children in 2000, According to Data from the Us Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The nih is fully committed to leaving no stone unfurned in confronting this catastrophic epidemic-Employing only gold standard, evidence-based science.” HHS Director of Communications Andrew Nixon Said in A Statement Thursday.
But Experts Are Highly Skeptical of Kennedy’s Claims that He Will Be Able to Determine the Causes of Autism in Just A Few Months.
After Spending Decades Researching the Genetic and Neuroscientific Causes of Autism, “The Idea that we can suddenly Find the Causes by September is unrealistic,” Said Geoff Bird, A Cognitive Neuroscientist and Autism Expert at University of Oxford and University College London, UK.
What Causes Autism?
There are several indicators of autism, and individuals do not always experience subject similarly. For some, social interaction can be difficult. Others Might Have Difficulties With Learning Or Hofersensitivity to Sensory Stimuli Like Touch Or Light.
As descripbed in Medical Texts, Autism Spectrum Disorder OCCURS FROM ALTIONS in theBrain’s Development During Early Life Research has actually revealed that in People with autism, The Range of Changes inHow The Brain Functions Can Be Wide
Scientists are”very sury there is a genetic basis,” Said Bird Around 80% of autism instances can be connected to acquired genetics anomalies.
Changes in Certain Genes Like MECP2 have actually be discovered to old mind growth, yet the proof that define adjustments are straight connected to autism isn’t clear.
“Diagnosis of autism has always been the biggest challenge in Autism Research, Because We Don’t have a biological marker of autism,” Bird Told DW. He Added That This Has Created Challenges for Researchers Trying to Understand The Biological Causes of Autism.
Autism Awareness and Broader Diagnostics Behind Its Rise
Experts Say the Biggest Reason Why Diagnoses of Autism have actually raised is that scientific and social interpretations have actually transformed regularly autism was initial descripbed 80 years earlier.
“Now it’s common to diagnosis People with more subtle diffulties, so that explains some of the increate prevalence,” Said Bird.
Changes in Screening Methods Have So Helped Experts Catch Signs of Autism in Girls More Often.
“Autism was Mostly Defined by How It Presents in Boys, and Girls’ Diagnostes Were Fit to that. Now we are expanding what counts to meet diagnostic criteria for autism to account for female representations,” Said bird. “The Natural Consequence is that autism prevalence increatees.”
The Neurodiversity Movement Has additionally Contributed toBroader Diagnostic Criteria Autism recognition -motions have actually assisted individuals comprehend just how their very own ownerences may not be neurotypical.
“Awareness Has Likely increate folk Seeking an assessment and diagnosis, and so (they) can feel relief when they find Answers and potential next steps,” Said suzy yardley, chief executive officer of kid autism uk, a charitable company.
Scientists are as a result checking out whether aspects like contaminants, Changes in the Gut-Brain Axis, Or the Immune System Might Have a Direct Effect on Neurodevelopment and Autism.
However, Bird Said the Evidence Around Thesis concepts is “not convincing”.
“No Doubt Pollutants Do Bad Things, but i would be surprised if they were increate rakes of autism,” Heer Said
Vaccines do not Cause autism
The Claim that vaccinations are Behind Rising Rairs of Autism Has Been Repeatedly andVigorously Disproven
Over the Past Two Decades, Scientists Have Carried Out Many Large-Scale and Rigorous Studies to Determine Whether Any A As Aspect ofVaccination Could Cause Autism None Showed Any Links Whatsoever Below Autism and Vaccines Given Either During Pregnancy Or after Birth.
“No link has been foundation between autism and vaccines, including containing thimerosal, A Mercury-Based Compound,” According to the United States-Based National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The incorrect Claim that Vaccines Cause Autism Original Came from a Paper Published in 1998 Suggesting A Link Between the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine and Problems with Brain Development.
Later, the research was discovered to have major mistakes and was withdrawed. Yet the Damage Done by the Paper Lives on.
Kennedy’s History of Anti-Vaccine Advocacy is Well-Documented And last month he Told the CDC to Study the Links Belonge Vaccines and Autism, Despite the Agency’s Own Previous Research Showing No Link.
The HHS Secretary Has So Downplayed a Measles Outbreak in Texas That Has Infected 500 People and Killed Two Unvaccinated Children.
Autism Community Advocates are unconvinced of Kennedy’s Goals
Advocates for the autism neighborhood fulfilled the HHS Secretary’s Announcement with hesitation. The UK’s National Autistic Society Called Kennedy’s Claim A “Fake News Publicity Stunt.”
“We’re stunned by the call and anti-science way autistic people are talked about by Trump and RFK Jr.” Said Tim Nicholls, Assistant Director of Policy, Research and Strategy at the UK’sNational Autistic Society “Wildn’t it Be Better If they Could Deploy Their Huge Financial Resources to Making Life Better for Autistic People and their families, and Impoving Society’s Understanding of Autism?”
Bird Said “Tensions” in the Way People Think About And Research Autism Are Common, Particularly When It Comes to The Idea ofReducing It Or Wiping It Out Some campaigning for teams suggest that autism is not a health problem, and “there is not anyding to ‘cure’,” yardley Told dw.
But various other suggest that idea that suggest autism isn’t a condition “Outweigh the voices of a large number of people with autism who feel their lives have been negativeely affected by having autism,” birdSaid
Edited by: Derrick Williams