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WASHINGTON — The leading health agency in the United States is set to launch a comprehensive testing and research initiative aimed at uncovering the causes of autism, as announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday.
Kennedy, known for his longstanding opposition to vaccines and his promotion of a widely discredited theory linking vaccines to the developmental disorder, stated that the research effort is scheduled to conclude by September and will engage hundreds of scientists. He communicated these plans during a televised Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump.
Trump reiterated his belief that vaccines may be contributing to rising autism rates, despite extensive research disproving any connection. “There’s got to be something artificial out there that’s doing this,” he remarked to Kennedy. “If you can come up with that answer, where you stop taking something, eating something, or maybe it’s a shot. But something’s causing it.”
Autism itself is a complex developmental disorder attributed to variations in brain structure and function, manifesting in a broad spectrum of symptoms that may include delays in language and learning, as well as challenges in social interactions.
Overall, the consensus within the scientific community firmly asserts that there is no causal relationship between childhood vaccinations and autism. Organizations dedicated to autism advocacy, like Autism Speaks, echo this position.
Current research indicates that genetics play a significant role in autism risk. Studies, including those examining twins, support the genetic basis of the condition. Furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which allocates over $300 million annually for autism research, identifies potential risk factors such as prenatal exposure to environmental toxins, low birth weight, and advanced parental age, although no single environmental trigger has been established as responsible.
Kennedy’s announcement left many questions unanswered, particularly regarding the specifics of the research methodology and the composition of the teams involved. Notably, leading autism organizations such as the Autism Society of America were not consulted in the planning process, according to spokesperson Kristyn Roth.
Many within the autism advocacy community agree on the necessity for further research to explore the complexities of the condition. However, Roth expressed concerns about the potential for revisiting outdated theories, stating, “There is a deep concern that we are going backward and evaluating debunked theories.”
Both Trump and Kennedy have voiced apprehension about the dramatic increase in autism diagnoses in recent years. It is essential to note that this surge is largely attributed to enhanced awareness and evolving diagnostic criteria, which now encompass a wider range of autism spectrum disorders rather than strictly severe cases.
Additionally, improved early screening methods and increased advocacy for underrepresented communities, particularly among Black and Hispanic families, have contributed to higher diagnosis rates in these populations.
Despite overwhelming evidence against the vaccine-autism hypothesis, anti-vaccine proponents, including Kennedy, continue to perpetuate such claims. The origins of this philosophy trace back to a now-retracted 1998 study that incorrectly suggested a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Extensive scientific investigations have since demonstrated that vaccinated individuals do not experience higher rates of autism compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
The leadership of Kennedy’s research initiative includes David Geier, known for his controversial views linking vaccines to autism. The choice to involve Geier, who has previously faced legal issues regarding his medical practices, has drawn additional scrutiny. This detail was highlighted in a report by The Washington Post.
The Department of Health and Human Services has yet to provide a statement in response to inquiries regarding the initiative.
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Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard in Washington, D.C., and Carla K. Johnson in Seattle.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for all content herein.
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