• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

RFK Jr attributes rise in autism to environmental factors, while CDC points to improved diagnostic practices

by April 16, 2025
written by April 16, 2025

While autism experts claim that the rise in cases stems from greater awareness and improved diagnostic testing, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shut down that idea Wednesday and, instead, attributed the rise in cases to environmental factors.

Those who discount that environmental exposure is a factor in rising autism cases are engaging in ‘epidemic denial,’ Kennedy told reporters Wednesday. 

Kennedy appeared at HHS’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to discuss the latest findings on autism included in a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey released Tuesday. 

‘This is coming from an environmental toxin, and somebody made a profit by putting that environmental toxin into our air, our water, our medicines, our food,’ Kennedy said. ‘And it’s to their benefit to say ‘Oh, to normalize it, to say all this is all normal, it’s always been here.’ That’s not good for our country.’

Even so, the CDC’s own new survey Kennedy addressed found that autism prevalence is on the rise and said the increase ‘might be due to differences in availability of services for early detection and evaluation and diagnostic practices.’

Specifically, the survey found that one in 31 8-year-old children were diagnosed with autism in 2022 – up from one in 36 in 2000.

Additionally, the survey determined that autism rates were far more common for boys than girls. While one in 20 boys is diagnosed with autism, those numbers go down to one in 70 for girls. 

While Kennedy acknowledged Wednesday there may be some genetic vulnerabilities that could contribute to increased odds of an autism diagnosis, he said the autism rates spiked starting in 1989 and that some new environmental toxin must have been introduced around that time. 

‘Why are we not seeing it in older people? Why is this only happening in young people?’ Kennedy said. ‘Have you ever seen anybody our age – I’m 71 years old – with full blown autism? Head-banging, non-verbal, non-toilet-trained.’ 

As a result, Kennedy said HHS’ studies would examine toxins including mold, pesticides, air, water, different medications, as well as the age and obesity rates of parents, among other things. 

‘We’re going to look at all the potential culprits,’ Kennedy said. 

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the apparent discrepancy between Kennedy’s remarks and the CDC survey. 

Kennedy signaled Thursday in a Cabinet meeting at the White House that the administration would kick off a massive research initiative to understand the cause of autism by September. 

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to policy and legal advocacy on behalf of those with autism, pushed back against Kennedy’s statements in the Cabinet meeting and claimed Kennedy refused to acknowledge studies that point to genes as the underlying cause of autism. 

‘There is no evidence that autism is actually becoming more common (rather, we as a society are getting better at identifying it, and diagnostic standards have appropriately been widened),’ the network said in a Thursday statement. ‘Even if it were, however, autistic and other disabled people belong in our society. To claim otherwise, and to speak as though our existence is some kind of calamity that must be eliminated, is a form of eugenics.’ 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Third top Pentagon aide Collin Carroll on administrative leave over leaks probe
next post
Third top Pentagon aide Colin Carroll on administrative leave over leaks probe

related articles

Trump warns of ‘massive bloodshed’ if Hamas fails...

October 5, 2025

Trump announces Israel agrees to Gaza ‘initial withdrawal...

October 4, 2025

‘Schumer shutdown’ already cost taxpayers $1.2B in pay...

October 4, 2025

Mike Johnson rallies House Republicans on government shutdown...

October 4, 2025

Mike Waltz sees Trump’s Gaza plan as ‘once-in-a-generation...

October 4, 2025

FBI busts alleged Maduro-linked money laundering network spanning...

October 4, 2025

Democrats roll out new campaign ads targeting Republicans...

October 4, 2025

Supreme Court’s emergency docket delivers Trump string of...

October 4, 2025

Iran executes 6 prisoners accused of carrying out...

October 4, 2025

Japan poised for first female prime minister after...

October 4, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Newly surfaced report provides more clues on COVID outbreak source and timeline

    April 10, 2025
  • Trump indicates he won’t make another presidential run in 2028 if unsuccessful this time

    September 23, 2024
  • Treasury Department recoups $31 million in improper government payments to dead people

    January 17, 2025
  • Irish leaders boycott Washington St Patrick’s Day events over Trump’s Gaza comments

    February 24, 2025
  • Garland lauds ‘principled’ Wray for ‘integrity and skill’ after resignation announcement

    December 12, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 4

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (6,267)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (935)

Latest Posts

  • Cozy ties between top Newsom ally and CCP official unearthed on networking site: ‘She helped me a lot’

    March 12, 2025
  • DOD closes think tank arm marred by ‘inefficiency’ and criticized by GOP for ties to Trump-Russia probe

    March 14, 2025
  • State Department to merge Palestinian Affairs Office with US Embassy in Jerusalem

    May 6, 2025

Recent Posts

  • Major Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap is underway, official says

    May 23, 2025
  • Tired of Ukraine? Remember South Vietnam

    December 3, 2024
  • Is Google about to break up? US DoJ mulls over historic move to curb ‘illegal monopoly’

    August 14, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Trump moves nuclear submarines weeks after praising sub’s power in Iran strikes

    August 1, 2025
  • FBI investigating Iran’s hack of Trump campaign documents

    August 13, 2024
  • Harris dodging flip-flop attacks as faceless surrogates flip key positions: ‘Playing politics’

    August 15, 2024
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock