What’s behind rising autism rates?



By CARLA K. JOHNSON, AP Medical Writer

President-elect Donald Trump seemed to entertain the discredited theory that vaccines cause autism as he answered questions from journalists at a press conference Monday at his Mar-a-Lago club.

Trump said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services who has been an anti-vaccine advocate, would look into the reasons for rising autism rates.

Trump, seeming to respond to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s defense of the polio vaccine, called himself “a big believer in it.”

“You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine,” Trump said.

A look at autism rates and why they are rising:

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. There are many possible symptoms, many of which overlap with other diagnoses. They can include delays in language and learning, social and emotional withdrawal, and an unusual need for routine. Scientists believe genetics can play a role.

What is the rate of autism among U.S. children?

Among all U.S. 8-year-olds, 1 in 36 had autism in 2020. That’s according to the most recent estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s up from 1 in 44 two years earlier.

Why is the rate of autism rising?

There are no blood or biological tests for autism. It’s identified by making judgments about a child’s behavior.



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