Fact check: No autism registry, real-time data platform to be created, HHS says
Instead of a traditional registry, a real-world data platform will be established. This platform will link existing datasets to support research into the causes of Autism and provide insights into improved treatment strategies, HHS said.
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This announcement comes after the Centers for Disease Control published a new study that found Autism among children aged eight increased from 2020 to 2022.
Their report estimates that one in 31 U.S. children has Autism.
United States Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says, 'The autism epidemic is running rampant.' Kennedy also noted that autism is a preventable disease.
Autism is not considered a disease but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Symptoms include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some autistic traits can go unnoticed well into adulthood.
Since the announcement, countless reports have surfaced stating that the National Institutes of Health would create a medical records database.
'The National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing our understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a complex and heterogeneous condition affecting approximately 1 in 31 children, according to 2025 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. In response to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s call to identify the causes of Autism, NIH is investing $50 million to launch a comprehensive research effort aimed at understanding the causes of ASD and improving treatments by leveraging large-scale data resources and fostering cross-sector collaboration.'
United States Department of Health and Human Services
In the CDC study, published Thursday, the agency found that non-white children, i.e., Black, Asian, and Hispanic children, are significantly more affected by Autism.
Kennedy has set a September deadline to determine what causes Autism.
Autism experts applaud efforts to understand the condition further, but say the number of reported cases began to balloon as the definition of the condition expanded to include mild cases.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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