The United States will identify the cause of autism by September, said Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on Thursday (10), setting a deadline for a response that has been thwarted scientists for decades.
Autism diagnoses in the United States have increased significantly since 2000, intensifying public concern. By 2020, the US autism rate in 8 -year -olds was 1 in 36, or 2.77%, above 2.27% in 2018 and 0.66% in 2000, according to the US Disease Control and Prevention Center.
“Under your orientation, we will know until September. We launched a great test effort and research that will involve hundreds of scientists around the world,” Kennedy said at a US President Donald Trump’s office meeting.
“Until September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we can eliminate these exhibitions,” said Kennedy.
Although the government has not released details of its plans, Kristyn Roth, marketing director of the Autism Society Group, wondered if September would be an achievable goal.
Calling the increase in epidemic autism rates is “incredibly irresponsible and deeply worrying,” Roth said, adding that this “encourages fear and paranoia” and stigmatizes the autistic community.
“Autism is a development condition that lasts life and affects people in many different ways,” said Roth.
In February, Trump decreed the creation of the Commission “Turn America again”, consisting of Kennedy and other secretaries, to analyze everything from autism and asthma rates to children to the amount of medicines being prescribed for ADHD or other conditions.
“There must be something artificial out there that is doing this,” Trump told Kennedy during the meeting. “There will be no larger press conference than when you have this answer.”
Scientists have been researching for decades which genetic or environmental factors can contribute to autism, but the causes of most cases are not yet clear.
They claim that the main drivers of increasing US autism rates are an enlarged definition that includes more types of behaviors, as well as a more widespread awareness and diagnosis.
A new large study this week has increased evidence that diabetes during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of brain problems and nervous system in children, including autism.
Kennedy has long promoted a unmasked connection between vaccines and autism, despite the contrary scientific evidence.
“Let’s look at the vaccines, but let’s look at everything. Everything is on the table, our diet system, our water, our air, different ways of educating children, all kinds of changes that may have triggered this epidemic,” Kennedy told Fox News.
This content was originally published in US want to identify cause of increased autism rates by September on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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