The story thus far:
Last month, United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced a large testing and research effort to determine the “environmental toxins” that he mentioned have been behind the rising “epidemic” of autism within the U.S. He mentioned the Department of Health and Human Services would launch a sequence of recent research specializing in environmental substances — as, he claimed, research into genetic components had been a “dead end”. Calling autism a “preventable disease,” he mentioned there can be some solutions by September this yr.
Some of Mr. Kennedy’s remarks got here following the discharge of a brand new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention displaying that charges of autism had elevated from 1 in 36 kids in 2020 to 1 in 31 in 2022. He dismissed the concept that the will increase could possibly be because of higher identification of circumstances and adjusted diagnostic standards, although the CDC report itself attributed a few of the enhance to extra screening for the situation.
Though Mr. Kennedy didn’t, presently, hyperlink vaccines with autism, he is a identified vaccine skeptic and has beforehand accomplished so, although that concept has been completely refuted by years of scientific research.
What is autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), based on the World Health Organization (WHO), are a various group of circumstances. They are characterised by some extent of issue with social interplay and communication. Other traits are atypical patterns of actions and behaviours, comparable to issue with transition from one exercise to a different, a deal with particulars, and strange reactions to sensations. Characteristics of autism could also be detected in early childhood, however autism is typically not identified till a lot later.
People with autism typically have co-occurring circumstances, the WHO states, together with epilepsy, despair, anxiousness, and a focus deficit hyperactivity dysfunction, in addition to difficult behaviours comparable to issue sleeping and self-injury.
The stage of mental functioning amongst autistic individuals varies extensively, extending from profound impairment to superior ranges. The skills and desires of autistic individuals differ and may evolve over time. While some individuals with autism can dwell independently, others have extreme disabilities and require life-long care and help, it says.
What does the prevailing research say?
Existing research factors to a number of components, probably each genetic and environmental components. Research has additionally proven that the MMR vaccine that was linked to autism in a now extensively debunked examine doesn’t trigger autism, nor do different childhood vaccines enhance the chance of autism.
“Autism is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. A lot of research into the genetics side of it has been carried out — a lot of genes that are involved have been identified, but the list is not complete as yet; it continues to expand. More research into this is needed. Environmental factors that have been studied include exposure to air pollution, heavy metals, pesticides, screentime, as well as other factors such as the age and lifestyle of the parents at conception. Research into these factors is also ongoing,” says Sheffali Gulati, little one neurologist, division of pediatrics, AIIMS New Delhi.
Is it preventable?
Prevention methods could also be complicated, says Prof Gulati, as a result of interaction of a number of components, lots of which stay unknown as but; autism is not brought on by one particular gene or one particular environmental issue. “In general, in healthcare, prevention consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Here, if primary prevention may not be fully possible as of yet, as more research is needed to understand what is causing autism, it is important to focus on secondary and tertiary prevention, which consists of early diagnosis and picking up of cases as well as interventions to help,” she mentioned.
“We’ve come a long way in understanding autism, and what we know from decades of research is that genetics play a major role, with heritability estimates as high as 91% in some studies (Tick et al., JAMA, 2016). While certain environmental exposures may influence development in utero, such as advanced parental age or prenatal exposure to air pollutants, there is no single environmental toxin scientifically proven to cause autism (Sandin et al., JAMA, 2014; Becerra et al., EHP, 2013). In fact, autism is not a disease in the classical form. It is a developmental difference shaped by a complex interplay of biology and environment. While some individual risk factors have been identified, none offer a path to broad prevention. Framing autism in this way is scientifically inaccurate and socially irresponsible. This kind of language risks placing blame on parents and caregivers, particularly mothers, for outcomes far beyond their control. It reinforces stigma and creates shame where there should be support,” says (through e mail) Tyler Evans, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences.
Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy, neuropsychiatrist and founder, Buddhi Clinic, Chennai, mentioned that with a purpose to know how one can intervene, it was necessary to know if there have been preventable threat components and what they have been, however whereas specializing in this, care should be taken to not shift the blame on to folks or to stigmatise people with ASD.
“So far,” mentioned Gita Sankaran, founder, WeCAN, a useful resource centre for autism in Chennai, “since we do not fully know what we are trying to prevent and we do not even know if it is preventable, to call ASD preventable and to term people or parents as responsible or responsible is inappropriate.”
Is autism on the rise?
“The prevalence of ASD is growing,” mentioned Dr. Krishnamoorthy, “and this is attributed to several factors, including recognition of the condition, as well as the criteria becoming more inclusive — the focus in the early years was on the more severe cases, but today, many of the less severe cases also fall under the autism framework.” Also, he mentioned, aside from genetic propagation, there are a selection of environmental components at present that may be contributing to the rise, triggers that could possibly be making ASD manifest. Socio-cultural ethos may additionally maybe have a task to play on this, he mentioned.
Overall, says Dr. Sankaran, there was a rise within the variety of diagnoses of people on the delicate finish of the spectrum, primarily due to elevated consciousness and entry to details about ASD. As the inhabitants will increase, nevertheless, there was a proportionate enhance within the whole variety of circumstances.
What is the necessity of the hour in ASD care and help?
At this level, says Dr. Krishnamoorthy, we’re removed from prognosis each case early and intervening early, globally and so, this could nonetheless be the precedence. As Dr. Evans says: “black, brown, immigrant, and low-income families already face huge barriers to diagnosis and service, often receiving diagnoses later and having less access to therapies and support.”
More psycho-education for households throughout the board, and a extra life like strategy to interventions based mostly on the wants of every little one, are additionally very important, mentioned Dr. Sankaran.
This aside, Dr. Krishnamoorthy raised the significance of combating misinformation, notably associated to autism being brought on by vaccines, which, he mentioned, had led to a drop in vaccination charges and will precipitate epidemics. “But crucially, more focus has to be given to maternal health during pregnancy. A lot of our current efforts in this direction are to do with communicable diseases, but non-communicable diseases, especially mental health, is not talked about enough. What can mothers and families do to ensure optimal environments for the growing foetus and for infants and toddlers — there has to be more awareness and more attention given to this area.”
Published – May 22, 2025 06:13 pm IST
