The US Department of Health and Human Services is initiating extensive testing to determine the causes of the autism epidemic, aiming for results by September, according to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. With the rate of autism diagnoses rising significantly over the last two decades, the HHS promises a scientific approach. However, experts express skepticism regarding the feasibility of such rapid results within a few months, emphasizing the complexity of autism's underlying factors, including genetic influences and brain development alterations.
"By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic, and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures," Kennedy said in a cabinet meeting.
"The NIH is fully committed to leaving no stone unturned in confronting this catastrophic epidemic employing only gold-standard, evidence-based science," HHS Director Andrew Nixon stated.
"The idea that we can suddenly find the causes by September is unrealistic," said Geoff Bird, a cognitive neuroscientist and autism expert.
Autism spectrum disorder arises from alterations in the brain's development during early life and can be influenced by a genetic basis.
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