PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Studies to determine the root causes of autism are underway, with completion expected by March, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
👥 Who’s Involved: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 15 teams of scientists.
📍 Where & When: United States; initial findings expected by September, with further studies concluding in March.
💬 Key Quote: “We’re going to be definitive. And the more definitive you are, the more it drives public policy,” said Kennedy.
⚠️ Impact: Autism prevalence in the U.S. has risen to 1 in 31 children, sparking urgent calls for research into potential environmental contributors.
IN FULL:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that critical studies aimed at uncovering the root causes of autism are on track for completion by March. Kennedy revealed during an interview on May 23 that some replication studies will be finalized by September, while new research initiatives involving 15 teams of scientists are set to begin soon.
“And those studies will mainly be replication studies of studies that have already been done. We’re also deploying new teams of scientists, 15 groups of scientists. We’re going to send those grants out to bid within three weeks,” Kennedy stated. He emphasized the importance of producing definitive findings that could shape public policy, adding, “We’re not going to stop the studies in September. We’re going to be definitive. And the more definitive you are, the more it drives public policy.”
Kennedy, who has made addressing the autism epidemic a priority under his Making America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, cited alarming data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, 1 in 31 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism by the age of eight, a significant increase that Kennedy has described as an “epidemic.”
The recently released MAHA Commission Report highlights environmental exposures as potential contributors to the rise in autism cases. It references data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “America’s Children and the Environment” report, which has tracked childhood health trends since 2000. While significant reductions have been achieved in certain pollutants, the overall health of children has reportedly worsened, raising concerns about the cumulative impact of modern environmental risks.
Kennedy criticized what he referred to as “epidemic denial,” urging Americans to examine the science behind the rising autism rates. “Instead of listening to this canard of epidemic denial, all you have to do is start reading a little science, because the answer is very clear, and this is catastrophic for our country,” he said.
