The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by the age of 8, a significant increase from previous years. The rise in autism diagnoses is largely attributed to improvements in detecting the disorder and increased awareness among doctors. However, the exact causes of autism are still uncertain, with genetics being a leading theory. Despite scientific evidence disproving a link between vaccines and autism, some individuals, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., continue to suggest otherwise, contributing to a decline in vaccine uptake in the U.S. The study also found that boys are three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism, and diagnoses are more common among Black and Hispanic children compared to white children.
The Trump administration has indicated a focus on finding the cause of autism in children, with both the president and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating the importance of understanding the disorder. Kennedy recently announced a “massive testing and research effort” to find the cause of autism by September, although the specifics of this effort remain unclear. Overall, the prevalence of autism in the U.S. is increasing, and efforts are being made to better understand and address the disorder.
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