Why Are Autism Rates Skyrocketing in the U.S.? - AI Podcast

Story at-a-glance

• Autism rates in the U.S. have surged by 17% in just two years, with 1 in 31 children now affected — a public health crisis experts say must no longer be ignored
• Most diagnosed children have intellectual disabilities, debunking claims that rising rates are due to better detection of mild cases
• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report omitted environmental factors entirely, despite mounting research linking toxins like glyphosate, heavy metals, and EMFs to neurological harm and autism-related outcomes
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is launching an unprecedented investigation into environmental triggers, urging researchers to "follow the science" and deliver initial findings by September to guide future action
• Disparities in autism rates across racial groups raise urgent questions, as Asian, Black, and Hispanic children face significantly higher diagnoses — a signal that systemic and environmental factors demand deeper scrutiny