2025 Essays

What Really Causes Autism and What We Should Do About It

Klitzman, Robert L.

Recently, given Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s attacks on vaccines as the cause of autism, I have been thinking about Billy. Kennedy’s assaults, dissuading Americans from getting immunizations, are already causing outbreaks of measles and will soon likely spread otherwise preventable diseases, including polio and influenza, potentially killing thousands of Americans.

His critics have focused on why he shouldn’t attack vaccines, but crucial questions also arise about what does in fact cause autism and how to prevent and address it.