Could Autism Be "Cured" By September?

TOP OF MIND

A September to Remember?
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged a "massive testing and research effort" to determine the cause of autism by September of this year, which is just five months away.

How realistic is this? Well, experts have their doubts, considering they've been studying autism for decades and still haven't nailed down an exact cause.

Kennedy says this latest research effort will involve hundreds of scientists from around the world. But some researchers are worried this new effort is meant to legitimize the claims that vaccines cause autism.

The important bits
During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy refused to say that vaccines do not cause vaccines, stating there were "studies out there suggesting a possible link," but it's worth noting that the studies he referenced have been thoroughly debunked.

So what are the leading theories? Well, most scientists believe autism is caused by a mix of genetics and environmental factors before birth, such as parents conceiving at older ages and exposure to certain chemicals.

Of note, there was a new study that just came out showing a possible link between gestational diabetes and autism. You can read more on that here.

The Autism Society, an educational and advocacy organization, cited reservations about how Kennedy's research is being conducted. "We're deeply concerned by the lack of transparency around this effort," they said in a lengthy statement.

What's it all mean?
Unfortunately, it means the cause of autism is probably not going to be solved by September, but the good news is that we’re still learning new information every day. You can find out everything there is to currently know about autism, including the leading theories of potential causes, here from the Autism Science Foundation.

DID YOU HEAR

🌶️ Bro, why do your spices have grandchildren?
The fine folks at RealSimple are calling everyone out. According to them, there are six items in your kitchen that probably need to be replaced. Number one on their list? Your spices. They note that most people believe spices last forever, but food experts say they start to lose their punch in less than two years. So it's probably time to let go of that jar of saffron you've had since the Clinton administration. See all 6 items you should be replacing here.

🏥 The best (and worst) states for children's healthcare
Nothing is more important than your child's health, and sadly, not every state provides a level playing field when it comes to children's healthcare. WalletHub looked at all 50 states, examining the cost of care, quality of care, and environmental factors such as access to healthy food and fluoridated water. They found that Massachusetts ranked highest overall, while Mississippi ranked the lowest. See where your state ranked. 

🐄 Whole milk might be making a return to school cafeterias
Back in 2012, whole milk was removed from schools to align with the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which aim to limit saturated fat consumption, citing "strong evidence" that diets low in saturated fat result in lower levels of LDL cholesterol. Now, research is mixed, and lawmakers have revived the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which appears to have a decent chance of passing in the Senate. What does our resident nutrition expert think? Check out the Bites with Kiyah section below!

🪪 Getting your driver’s license is so 1999
Back in the day, a driver's license was the first source of freedom for most teens, but according to the latest data, today's teens don't care as much. Nearly 40% of today's teens are delaying getting their license by one or two years. 30% of them delay it by more than two years. Why is this happening? Read more.

🪺 Divorced parents are birdnesting
What the heck does that mean?

DOSE OF GOOD

@dennis.the.pomchi

He’s over it 💀 (ignore the towels all over the floor he’s decided he can’t walk on the laminate lol) #chihuahua #pomchi #pomeranian #dogto... See more

BITES WITH KIYAH

A new bill could bring whole milk back to schools. But is that actually a good idea? This week I’m digging into what the research says — and why this is about more than just milk.

Read the full post here.

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you, "Is being a parent hell?" and around 70% of you said, "It's hard, but I wouldn't describe it as hell" while 27% of you answered, "No, I love being a parent!" We should note that one person did vote for "YES."

PSST! THERE’S A GIVEAWAY GOING ON

Over 13 of our favorite brands have teamed up for a pretty big giveaway, with nearly $3,000 in prizes, including a $200 Visa gift card. Enter here.