WASHINGTON (AP) — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism on Thursday. The effort, which will involve hundreds of scientists, is set to be completed by September. President Donald Trump suggested that vaccines could be to blame for autism rates, a theory that has been debunked by decades of research.
Autism is a developmental disability with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social skills. While genes play a significant role in autism, no single environmental factor has been determined to be a culprit. Leading autism organizations have not been included in discussions about the research, raising concerns that the study may be based on debunked theories.
Despite increased awareness and improved diagnosis methods, anti-vaccine advocates like Kennedy continue to claim a link between vaccines and autism. Kennedy has hired David Geier to lead the research effort, a controversial figure who has made unfounded claims about vaccines and autism in the past. HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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