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In April, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference regarding the increasing rates of autism diagnoses. He indicated that he would soon announce a study to identify the underlying causes. While Kennedy suggested that environmental factors are the primary contributors to autism, research indicates that genetics plays a more significant role. Many researchers argue that the apparent rise in prevalence is largely due to an increase in diagnoses rather than a genuine rise in symptoms.
Although the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a $50 million initiative to fund research on autism’s causes, some researchers expressed disappointment. They felt that these recent developments overlooked decades of findings related to the documented rise in diagnoses as well as the condition’s underlying causes.
This is an audio version of our Feature: Autism is on the rise — what’s really behind the increase?
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Summary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently held a press conference on rising autism diagnoses and hinted at upcoming research to uncover its causes. While he focused on environmental factors, most studies highlight the significant role of genetics and suggest that the increase in diagnoses may not reflect a true rise in symptoms. The NIH’s new funding sparked concern among researchers who feel it overlooks years of previously documented findings.
