US health secretary bucks expert opinion as research shows rise in diagnoses due to better tools and screening
The US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, said in his first press conference that the significant and recent rise in autism diagnoses was evidence of an “epidemic” caused by an “environmental toxin”, which would be rooted out by September.
Autism advocates and health experts have repeatedly stated the rise in diagnoses is related to better recognition of the condition, changing diagnostic criteria and better access to screening. Many also reject the label of an “epidemic”, arguing that neurodivergence should be valued.
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RFK disagreed with the consensus of health researchers, and said that “we need to move away” from the idea that the increase in autism prevalence “is simply due to better diagnostic tools”.
Yeah like we have decades upon decades of proof that PFAS is incredibly toxic to all forms of life and yet companies are still fucking dumping it into streams and rivers. Why the hell not start with something that is a problem? Well it’s because it’s a boogeyman that he can say democrats are hiding the details about autism and even though no link will ever be found he can keep that gravy train rolling.