Autism rates increased, again. But RFK Jr. diverges from CDC report about the reason.
Autism rates increased, again. But RFK Jr. diverges from CDC report about the reason.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X
Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas.
Autism diagnoses among 8-year-olds saw a slight uptick from 2020 to 2022, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study, published Tuesday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, looked at 16 sites in 14 states and Puerto Rico and found one in 31 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2022, an increase from one in 36 in 2020.
The findings come as the neurodevelopmental condition faces increased scrutiny by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said 'the autism epidemic is running rampant' in response to the report. Kennedy's rhetoric on autism has been welcome in some corners of the autism community and maligned in others.
The HHS statement went on to dismiss the possibility that the rising incidence of autism could be attributed to increased access to diagnostic tools and improvements to early detection, contradicting what researchers said in the report.
The data does not signal an 'epidemic,' said Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, it reflects diagnostic progress.
In case you missed: RFK Jr. says the government will know what caused the 'autism epidemic' by September
Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed based on challenges with social skills, communication and repetitive behaviors. It is a spectrum, meaning symptoms vary widely, with a percentage unable to communicate at all and others highly successful in some areas of life.
"Claiming that autism is 'preventable' is not science-based, and places unnecessary blame on people, parents and families," Banks said. "Autism is not a chronic disease, nor a childhood disease, it is a lifelong developmental condition; it is not an epidemic, nor should it be compared to the COVID-19 pandemic, and using language like that perpetuates falsehoods, stigma and stereotypes."
The study's findings also emphasize the need for "robust, comprehensive research and data rooted in credible methodologies," Banks said.
As in 2020, autism spectrum disorder prevalence among 8-year-olds was higher among Asian/Pacific Islander, Black and Hispanic children than among white children, CDC data showed. The data also showed that it is more common among boys than girls.
The report also found rates ranged from about 1 in 103 8-year-olds being diagnosed in one south Texas county, to about 1 of every 21 in a suburban county near Philadelphia and roughly 1 in 19 near San Diego, California.
'The true or actual rate of autism is more likely to be closer to what this report has identified in California or Pennsylvania,' said study co-author Walter Zahorodny of Rutgers University in New Jersey. 'California in particular has a longstanding and excellent program for screening and early intervention.'
'The problem is there's not a lot of research that gives us a strong indication for what is driving the rise," Zahorodny said.
Last week, Kennedy set a September deadline for the U.S. National Institutes of Health to determine the cause behind the rise in autism rates. The CDC says many studies have looked at whether there is a connection between vaccines and autism and "to date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with autism."
Contributing: Zac Anderson, USA TODAY; Reuters
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