Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(151,112 posts)
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:42 AM 22 hrs ago

NIH director pushes back timeline for RFK Jr.'s autism answers

Source: CBS News

April 22, 2025 / 8:28 PM EDT


The head of the National Institutes of Health now says it could take until next year to get preliminary results from their new studies into autism, marking the latest delay to findings that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had promised by September.

"We're going to get hopefully grants out the door by the end of the summer," NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya told reporters Tuesday. "And people will get to work. We'll have a major conference, with updates, within the next year."

Bhattacharya said it should still be considered "a very rapid study by NIH's normal standards," saying that the institute was working to "cut the red tape without cutting the rigor" in launching their new research grants. "It's hard to guarantee when science will make an advance. It depends on, you know, nature has its say," Bhattacharya said.

Kennedy earlier this month pledged that "by September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic, and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures." In an April 15 statement released by his department, Kennedy said "we expect to begin to have answers by September."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-director-pushes-back-timeline-rfk-jr-autism-answers/

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
NIH director pushes back timeline for RFK Jr.'s autism answers (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 22 hrs ago OP
"'cut the red tape without cutting the rigor'" RockCreek 22 hrs ago #1
Or never. Javaman 22 hrs ago #2
Of course let's disregard the numerous studies already conducted mdbl 22 hrs ago #3
So the studies already conducted GusBob 20 hrs ago #6
Why don't you do your own research, GusBob? yardwork 20 hrs ago #10
The autism moms - in MAHA womanofthehills 10 hrs ago #16
And that is nonsense that has been debunked. yardwork 9 hrs ago #20
We need to be able to read the studies womanofthehills 10 hrs ago #15
The studies are open to anyone to read. yardwork 9 hrs ago #21
What's caused the epidemic is a broadening of the Phoenix61 22 hrs ago #4
The diagnosis changed from DSM 4 to DSM 5 womanofthehills 9 hrs ago #18
I think you meant the top 25% as Asperger's is a less Phoenix61 8 hrs ago #24
Kennedy has his head up his ass. Just because we didn't have names for the conditions it doesn't mean they didn't exist. Walleye 21 hrs ago #5
NIH-funded scientists were learning a lot about Alzheimer's disease. yardwork 20 hrs ago #8
Yep, people work hard and study this stuff all their lives, there's no room for dilettantes Walleye 20 hrs ago #12
There are hundreds of studies posted online of metal in the brains of those with Alzheimer's womanofthehills 10 hrs ago #17
What absolute nonsense. yardwork 20 hrs ago #7
Yes, it isn't science, and it's ludicrous that they're even pretending it is. It's pushing RW conspiracy theories and Karasu 13 hrs ago #14
The contradiction is the hundreds of videos online womanofthehills 9 hrs ago #19
There are thousands of legitimate autism studies. yardwork 9 hrs ago #22
Vaccines creon 20 hrs ago #9
The potential links have been studied and none found. yardwork 20 hrs ago #11
Well if hundreds of online studies connect aluminum to Alzheimer's womanofthehills 9 hrs ago #23
Kennedy's statements on autism have all been entirely pulled out of his ass. Martin68 17 hrs ago #13

RockCreek

(963 posts)
1. "'cut the red tape without cutting the rigor'"
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:48 AM
22 hrs ago

Why do I think that means getting rid of privacy protection, consent, and ethical standards?

GusBob

(7,874 posts)
6. So the studies already conducted
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:15 AM
20 hrs ago

Have they found the cause of autism? Or the path-physiology ?

There seems to be a bunch of rule outs ( like vax’s ) and a bunch of suggested related stuff.

Is it true 1 in 68 children born end up with a diagnosis of autism?

I think it’s genetic, but that can be proven , no?

yardwork

(66,311 posts)
10. Why don't you do your own research, GusBob?
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:26 AM
20 hrs ago

The many scientists doing legitimate scientific research into autism aren't posting on DU. They're working around the clock answering these questions - and now they're contending with the bullshit disruptions caused by this administration.

However, you are free to do lots of reading in PubMed. There are thousands of peer-reviewed journal articles on autism research. They include numerous studies looking into links to vaccines and other potential causes.

It is a flat out lie that science has ignored this. I don't know if RFK, Jr. is capable of understanding facts, though.

womanofthehills

(9,671 posts)
16. The autism moms - in MAHA
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:51 PM
10 hrs ago

Are posting hundreds of videos online. Videos of their kids being totally normal & often advanced- and then having seizures and regressing often immediately or a day or week after well baby visits.






womanofthehills

(9,671 posts)
15. We need to be able to read the studies
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:44 PM
10 hrs ago

Because there now is so much contraction in research studies if you search online. Plus the autism moms say - their “observation videos of their kids before & after” - (these videos are growing online) need to be taken into account.








yardwork

(66,311 posts)
21. The studies are open to anyone to read.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:31 PM
9 hrs ago

Go to PubMed and read to your heart's content.

Question for you. Why do you believe RFK, Jr.'s lies instead of the decades of peer-reviewed science? There are well-respected autism organizations. I belong to them. Why don't you?

Phoenix61

(18,283 posts)
4. What's caused the epidemic is a broadening of the
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:56 AM
22 hrs ago

diagnosis from Autism to Autism Spectrum Disorder. When Autism was first recognized as a disorder only those diagnosed currently as Level 3 would have met the criteria for the diagnosis. Asperger’s and Level 1 and Level 2 Autism diagnosis would have fallen under something else or not had any diagnosis at all.

womanofthehills

(9,671 posts)
18. The diagnosis changed from DSM 4 to DSM 5
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:11 PM
9 hrs ago

In DSM 4 - Asperger’s was a separate condition of higher functioning kids than autism kids.

DSM 5 - changed this and put the higher functioning Asperger kids into the same category as the 25% lowest functioning autism kids. So Asbergers became autism.

Walleye

(39,752 posts)
5. Kennedy has his head up his ass. Just because we didn't have names for the conditions it doesn't mean they didn't exist.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:52 AM
21 hrs ago

My grandmother died of Alzheimer’s. It’s obvious that’s what it was, but they didn’t call it that back then, they had no name for it. Medicine has made so many advances in the last couple of decades. I hate to see it screwed up like this.

yardwork

(66,311 posts)
8. NIH-funded scientists were learning a lot about Alzheimer's disease.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:21 AM
20 hrs ago

Musk and RFK, Jr. demolished it.

Now they'll say "surprise! It was all vaccines!"

And by the time their followers realize his wrong they are they'll be gone.

Walleye

(39,752 posts)
12. Yep, people work hard and study this stuff all their lives, there's no room for dilettantes
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:43 AM
20 hrs ago

womanofthehills

(9,671 posts)
17. There are hundreds of studies posted online of metal in the brains of those with Alzheimer's
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:03 PM
10 hrs ago

3 studies of hundreds online

“ Heavy metals exposure and Alzheimer’s disease: Underlying mechanisms and advancing therapeutic approaches”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432824003681

“Aluminum and its potential contribution to Alzheimer's disease (AD) “. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3986683/

“Role of metals in Alzheimer's disease”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34313926/




yardwork

(66,311 posts)
7. What absolute nonsense.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:19 AM
20 hrs ago

The NIH has been finding legitimate research into autism for decades. Musk and RFK, Jr. disrupted all those studies.

Now they claim they're putting them back and "we'll have an answer by September." Science doesn't work that way.

Some bullshit report will be released blaming autism on vaccines. Because that's what RFK, Jr.'s drug-addled brain thinks the answer should be.

This isn't science.

Karasu

(978 posts)
14. Yes, it isn't science, and it's ludicrous that they're even pretending it is. It's pushing RW conspiracy theories and
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 04:05 PM
13 hrs ago

nothing more. The outcome was determined before the start. That's the entire reason they're even doing this.

It's all theatrics to "legitimize" the vaccine narrative. Everyone with a brain fucking knows as much.

The problem, however, is that too many people in this country are scientifically illiterate as fuck.

womanofthehills

(9,671 posts)
19. The contradiction is the hundreds of videos online
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:17 PM
9 hrs ago

Made by parents of autistic kids - showing their kids before and after well baby visits. Go search autism videos of kids.

NIH funded studies looking for a genetic connection according to some news sites this week. All we need to do is see those studies.

creon

(1,493 posts)
9. Vaccines
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:25 AM
20 hrs ago

Vaccines have nothing to do autism.

There was a time when betteheim argued that "bad parenting" caused Autism.
Now, vaccines are accused.

Vaccines have nothing to do with Autism.

yardwork

(66,311 posts)
11. The potential links have been studied and none found.
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 08:28 AM
20 hrs ago

I think it's possible that nanoparticles of plastic might be causing some neurological issues, though.

Of course TrumpCo will not want that studied.

womanofthehills

(9,671 posts)
23. Well if hundreds of online studies connect aluminum to Alzheimer's
Wed Apr 23, 2025, 07:35 PM
9 hrs ago

And the dead virus vaccines (unlike live virus vaccines like MMR) - DTaP Hep A, Hep B, Flu, polio, etc need aluminum as an adjuvant to make vaccine work - who knows?? If there is no aluminum you will get no antibodies.

This is concerning- petitions have been submitted about this and Aaron Seri -top vaccine injury lawyer has been discussing this study on social media podcasts.

“A team of aluminum experts at Keele University – led by Christopher Exley, a Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry for the last 29 years with over 200 published peer reviewed articles regarding aluminum – has found that six childhood vaccines contain a statistically significant greater quantity of aluminum adjuvant than is provided for on these products’ labeling (Pentacel, Havrix, Adacel, Pedvax, Prevnar 13, and Vaqta) while four childhood vaccines contain a statistically significant lower quantity of aluminum adjuvant than is provided for on the labeling for these products (Infanrix, Kinrix, Pediarix,

https://icandecide.org/article/aluminum-in-childhood-vaccines/





Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»NIH director pushes back ...