The surge in autism diagnoses has more to do with evolving definitions, improved detection methods, and greater awareness than with an actual increase in cases. Decades of research affirm that genetic factors primarily drive autism's biological underpinnings. While previously, only severely impaired children received autism diagnoses, contemporary criteria encompass a broader spectrum, leading to a notable rise in diagnosis rates from about 1 in 2,500 in the 1970s to roughly 1 in 36 today, without indicating a real epidemic of the condition itself.
The increase in autism diagnoses over the years is largely attributed to improved awareness, expanded criteria, and better detection methods rather than a true rise in cases.
Decades of research have established that autism is primarily biological, with genetic factors taking precedence over environmental influences that some, like Robert Kennedy, suggest contribute to its rise.
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