The causes of autism, as outlined by the World Health Organisation, have become a topic of heightened interest as Robert F Kennedy Jr prepares to make a significant announcement.
Leonard Sax, a family doctor with over 30 years of experience, notes a concerning trend: the number of autism diagnoses in children aged five to eight has tripled in just 11 years, up to 2022.
But what does science say about the autism spectrum and those who are on it globally?
The WHO website provides a summary: “Available scientific evidence suggests that there are probably many factors that make a child more likely to have autism, including environmental and genetic factors.”
Research indicates that exposure to specific environmental factors seems more common in autistic children or their parents.
Factors like parental age, prenatal exposure to air pollutants, severe birth complications, and diabetes during pregnancy have been suggested as possible contributors.
The WHO further notes: “In addition, research studies have looked into possible association between use of various medicine during pregnancy and increased risk for autism.”
They add: “For example, prenatal exposure to valproate and carbamazepine, which are used for seizures, appears to occur more frequently in children with autism.”
Using the occasion of Charlie Kirk’s funeral, US President Donald Trump hinted at a potential breakthrough in autism research during a speech on September 21.
This forthcoming announcement, he stated, could be “one of the most important things that we will do,” referring to his administration’s efforts.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that health secretary Kennedy Jr is preparing to suggest a possible link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.
During a cabinet meeting in April, Kennedy Jr stated: “We’ve launched a massive testing and research effort that’s going to involve hundreds of scientists from around the world. By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures,” as reported by Newsweek.
According to four sources cited by The Washington Post, officials are set to advise women in the US against taking Tylenol during pregnancy unless necessary for fever.
They will reportedly reference limited research suggesting a potential connection between the drug and increased autism risk, though this has not been confirmed by any known scientific study to date, contrasting with WHO’s stance that autism stems from a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
President Trump described these forthcoming insights as potentially “amazing” during his remarks at Kirk’s funeral.