Specialist professionals challenge Kennedy's proposed strategy to uncover autism's origin, deeming it impractical.

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Tyler Durden

Washington (AP) - Promising "to uncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases" within a few months, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised eyebrows among experts who believe such a timeline is unrealistic. This pledge, made on Wednesday, includes the creation of a new database by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by merging Medicaid and Medicare insurance claims with electronic medical records and other data.

Critics argue that this approach may overlook decades of scientific research emphasizing the role of genetics and early brain development. David Amaral, a long-time autism researcher from the UC Davis MIND Institute, explains that most evidence indicates multiple causes for autism, all affecting fetal brain development, even though the symptoms may not appear until the child is 2 or 3 years old.

Kennedy's plan follows years of controversy surrounding autism, with some blaming environmental factors such as toxins for the increasing rates of the disorder. While the underlying causes remain debated, research has linked about 200 genes to autism and the quest to better understand the differences in the brain that can be present at birth.

Autism isn't officially considered a disease but is rather a complex brain disorder colloquially known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The symptoms vary widely, with some individuals being nonverbal and having significant intellectual disabilities, while others show milder effects such as difficulties with social and emotional skills.

Experts maintain that the rise in autism rates is due to better diagnoses and heightened awareness, rather than an epidemic of preventable disease caused by environmental factors.

Genetic Factors

Research highlights the significant role of genetics in ASD. Some genetic variants, even if the parent doesn't show signs of autism, can be passed from parent to child. However, these are not the only type of genetic variation. Rapidly dividing cells in the brain can make mistakes, leading to mutations in a specific type of cell or a specific part of the brain during development.

Noninvasive testing has shown differences in brain activity patterns in babies who won't be diagnosed with autism until later, highlighting the need to understand alterations in brain structure and neural circuitry.

Environmental Factors

Researchers have identified several factors that may increase the risk of autism when interacting with genetic vulnerability. These factors include the age of the child's father, the mother's health during pregnancy, the use of certain medications during pregnancy, and preterm birth.

Over the years, the misconception that measles vaccinations are linked to autism has been debunked. The link has been refuted by extensive scientific studies.

Kennedy's Database Plan

Critics argue that the U.S., despite having a fragmented health care system, will never have the level of detailed medical tracking available in countries with national health systems, making it challenging to uncover autism's causes.

While the NIH's planned database is seen as valuable for studying access to care, treatment effectiveness, and other trends, experts question its ability to uncover the root causes of autism, especially considering the lack of information about genetics.

However, it's worth noting that researchers have previously used insurance claims and similar data to study important questions related to autism, such as access to services.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Seattle proposes to create a new database, merging Medicaid and Medicare insurance claims with electronic medical records and other data, as part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s plan to uncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases.
David Amaral, a researcher from the UC Davis MIND Institute, advocates for understanding the multiple causes for autism, explaining that most evidence indicates these causes affect fetal brain development, even though symptoms may not appear until the child is 2 or 3 years old.
Kennedy's plan follows years of controversy surrounding autism, with some people in Seattle believing environmental factors such as toxins to be responsible for the increasing rates of the disorder, although the underlying causes remain debated.
While the new database is believed to be valuable for studying access to care, treatment effectiveness, and other trends, experts in health-and-wellness and mental-health question its ability to uncover the root causes of autism, especially considering the lack of information about genetics.