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Kennedy sets September deadline to identify cause of rising US autism rates
Reuters ^ | April 10, 2025 | Ahmed Aboulenein & Julie Steenhuysen

Posted on 04/11/2025 4:09:40 PM PDT by Twotone

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) - The United States will identify the cause of autism by September, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Thursday, setting a deadline for an answer that has eluded scientists for decades.

Autism diagnoses in the United States have increased significantly since 2000, intensifying public concern. By 2020, the U.S. autism rate in 8-year-olds was 1 in 36, or 2.77%, up from 2.27% in 2018 and 0.66% in 2000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"At your direction, we are going to know by September. We've launched a massive testing and research effort that's going to involve hundreds of scientists from around the world," Kennedy said at a meeting of President Donald Trump's cabinet.

"By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures," Kennedy said.

While the government has not released details of its plans, Kristyn Roth, chief marketing officer for advocacy group the Autism Society of America, questioned whether September would be an achievable target.

Calling rising rates of autism an epidemic is "incredibly irresponsible and deeply concerning," Roth said, adding that it "encourages fear, paranoia" and stigmatizes the autism community.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: autism; deadline; rfkjr; robertkennedyjr

1 posted on 04/11/2025 4:09:40 PM PDT by Twotone
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To: Twotone

Calling rising rates of autism an epidemic is “incredibly irresponsible and deeply concerning,” Roth said, adding that it “encourages fear, paranoia” and stigmatizes the autism community.


Well if it’s not an epidemic of some sort, how else can the huge jump be accounted for? Not an epidemic of a contagious nature, but something is causing this massive increase. Vaccines? Preservatives in vaccines? Does any other country have such numbers? These children aren’t born with autism; something they’re exposed to has to be responsible.


2 posted on 04/11/2025 4:18:19 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: Twotone

Everybody already knows. He is just going to make it official.


3 posted on 04/11/2025 4:22:25 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of anger, hate and violence.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Yep. The things they absolutely insist aren’t the cause.


4 posted on 04/11/2025 4:49:29 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Long live The Great MAGA Kangz!)
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To: Flaming Conservative
The spectrum was j-l. Now it's b-x.

I think the spectrum is waaaaay too broad.

The same thing happened with ADHD...wiggle in your seat...and next thing you know...you're on Ritalin.

5 posted on 04/11/2025 5:03:26 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Twotone

I have three boys and the youngest is highly functioning autistic. We have no idea why. Nothing different with the three other than ages, the youngest being 14 years younger. Our primary doctor of 30 years doesn’t know why either but she said she’s seen a lot of theories. We might participate in a research project.


6 posted on 04/11/2025 5:04:10 PM PDT by Nifty
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To: Flaming Conservative; All

Well if it’s not an epidemic of some sort, how else can the huge jump be accounted for?


A change in definitions of a disorder, and a change in the intensity of searching for people who meet the criteria of the changed definitions can do that.


7 posted on 04/11/2025 5:07:24 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Twotone

I would think AI could sort through a few million medical records and find the problem…..no?


8 posted on 04/11/2025 5:13:31 PM PDT by cornfedcowboy ( )
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To: marktwain

they used to just be called introverts or socially awkward.


9 posted on 04/11/2025 5:26:33 PM PDT by nbenyo
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To: Twotone

“the U.S. autism rate in 8-year-olds was 1 in 36, or 2.77%, up from 2.27% in 2018 and 0.66% in 2000”

In my youth, at that age, I would be with other kids (brother & neighbors) when out of bed every day.

Family sizes were somewhat larger on average too.


10 posted on 04/11/2025 6:35:54 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Twotone

My mom was a stay-at-home mom.


11 posted on 04/11/2025 6:36:36 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: nbenyo

they used to just be called introverts or socially awkward.


I thought some people called them “nerds”.


12 posted on 04/11/2025 6:48:43 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

“bookworms”


13 posted on 04/12/2025 3:34:12 AM PDT by Paperpusher (Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.)
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To: Paperpusher

I always took that as a complement!


14 posted on 04/12/2025 7:47:42 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

Me too! I have been called worse.


15 posted on 04/14/2025 1:44:18 PM PDT by Paperpusher (Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.)
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