Study uncovers no evidence of autism epidemic despite claims
Many people, including U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., say autism rates have reached epidemic proportions. But while the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen since the 1980s, experts say greater awareness and improved testing are behind the increase in diagnoses.
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics has found no evidence of an autism epidemic, despite claims to the contrary. Researchers examined birth cohorts of children in South Korea, born between 1998 and 2010, and aged 7 years between 2005 and 2017. They discovered that both the incidence and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remained constant over a seven-year period, ranging from 1.9% to 3.2% for incidence and 2.0% to 3.4% for prevalence.
This pattern suggests that the rise in diagnoses is due to improved detection and awareness rather than an actual increase in autism cases. The study, which included over 62,000 children and followed STROBE guidelines, aligns with the current prevalence rate of 3.2% in U.S. 8-year-olds reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The authors conclude that the stable rates of ASD incidence and prevalence across 12 consecutive birth cohorts contradict claims of an autism epidemic.
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