Kennedy announces controversial study on the causes of autism!

Kennedy announces controversial study on the causes of autism!

US Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. today announced a comprehensive investigation into the causes of autism. This initiative aims to address what he calls the “autism epidemic” in the United States. Kennedy plans to provide answers by September 2025, shedding light on the current increase in diagnoses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in 36 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2020, up from one in 150 in 2000. vienna.at reports that experts are skeptical about the viability of Kennedy's goals. Geoff Bird, a cognitive neuroscientist, noted that the scientific basis on which Kennedy's initiative rests is questionable.

According to current studies, around 80 percent of autism cases are linked to genetic factors, but there is a lack of reliable biological markers for diagnosis. A key reason for the increase in diagnoses is the expanded definition of autism and better screening, especially among girls. Scientists and experts emphasize that hypotheses about environmental toxins, diabetes and the so-called gut-brain axis as triggers for autism are not sufficiently scientifically supported abcnews.go.com.

Surveys and areas of study

In his announcement, Kennedy emphasized that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has commissioned the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct studies on various environmental impacts. Factors such as mold, obesity and possibly even drug exposure during pregnancy are examined. The NIH is led by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya announce new studies to find out which environmental influences are linked to increasing autism diagnoses.

Kennedy noted that he is not completely ignoring the increasing attention on autism, but he does not believe it is the primary cause of the increase. Studies show that genetic factors have a significant influence, with mutations in certain genes can increase the risk of autism. Among these genes are SHANK3, NRXN1 and CNTNAP2, all of which play a role in neuronal development heb-franziska-zedler.de.

Criticism and alternative views

Kennedy's initiative provoked immediate critical reactions. Tim Nicholls of the National Autistic Society described the approach as callous and unscientific. He argued that the focus should be on improving the living conditions of autistic people instead of focusing exclusively on researching the causes. Autism Speaks also declared Kennedy's statements "extremely disappointing and damaging" because they could create the impression that autism is preventable and linked to environmental toxins, which is not supported by sufficient evidence.

The discussion surrounding autism also reflects different perspectives: for some it is a neurodiverse variant, while others experience it as a severe impairment. Despite all these controversies, it remains to be seen that autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Autism manifests itself in social difficulties, communication problems and often repetitive behaviors. A clear cause has not yet been identified, which is why further research is necessary in the future.