Nashville, Tennessee – One out of every 31 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by the time they reach their 8th birthday, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This statistic, based on an analysis of medical records from 2022, represents a significant increase in autism diagnoses over the past twenty years. Former CDC reports indicated that 1 in 54 children were diagnosed with autism in 2016, a stark contrast to 2000 when the rate was 1 in 150.
Zachary Warren, author of the new report and executive director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) in Nashville, Tennessee, highlighted the widespread prevalence of autism. He attributed the rise in diagnoses to advancements in recognizing the developmental disorder, with healthcare professionals now more proficient than ever at identifying autism.
While the exact causes of the increase in autism diagnoses remain uncertain and complex, research has pointed towards genetic factors playing a significant role. Warren stressed the multifactorial nature of autism, suggesting that there may be numerous neurogenetic factors influencing its presentation. Despite various studies discrediting the alleged link between vaccines, such as those protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella, and autism, unsubstantiated claims made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continue to impact vaccination rates in the U.S.
The CDC study also examined autism diagnoses in 4-year-olds, estimating that 1 in 34 children were diagnosed in 2022. Boys were three times as likely as girls to receive an autism diagnosis, while diagnoses were more frequent among Black and Hispanic children compared to white children. The Trump administration has shown a keen interest in addressing autism, with both the president and Kennedy emphasizing the importance of identifying the root causes of the disorder among children.
During a recent meeting at the White House, Kennedy announced plans for a substantial testing and research initiative aiming to determine the cause of autism by September. The specifics of this effort, however, remain unclear at this time.
