US Government Launches Major Study on Autism Causes

Health Minister Robert Kennedy Jr announces an investigation involving hundreds of scientists, with findings expected by September 2025.

Robert Kennedy Jr, US Health Minister, announced a government-backed study to investigate the rising prevalence of autism, calling it an 'epidemic.'
The study will involve hundreds of scientists and aims to identify environmental, genetic, or diagnostic factors contributing to the increase in autism diagnoses.
CDC data shows autism prevalence has risen from 1 in 150 children born in 1992 to 1 in 36 for those born in 2012, though improved diagnostic practices may partly explain this trend.
Both Kennedy and President Donald Trump have previously suggested vaccines, particularly the MMR vaccine, could be linked to autism, a claim discredited by numerous studies.
The findings of the study are expected by September 2025, aiming to provide clearer insights into the causes of autism and address ongoing public and political debates.