National Council on Severe Autism Webinar, February 15, 2024, featuring:

Jill Escher, Escher Fund for AutismWalter Zahorodny, PhD, Rutgers UniversityThis webinar examines the most important and poorly understood phenomenon in autism — the sharply escalating rates over the past several decades. The speakers explain:• The overwhelming evidence for a true increase in autism in the U.S., including specifically California (Escher) and New Jersey (Zahorodny), an increase that is likely between 2,000-5,500%• The evidence for a true increase in other high-income countries (and lower rates in lower-income countries)• The lack of evidence for commensurate autism rates in older birth cohorts• The flaws in the arguments that certain studies (eg, Hansen or Brugha) show there has been no increase in autism• Autism rates are still increasing, and no one understands why• The tired, unsupported rationalizations that the autism increase stems from awareness and diagnostic shifts• An emerging hypothesis that could help explain at least part of the surge, and the 6 key findings from autism research• The reasons for widespread denial of the increase in autism

Links:

JillEscher.comEscherFund.orgAutism Epidemic, Autism Research, Autism Genetics, Autism Epigenetics, CDC ADDM Network, Developmental Disabilities, Aspergers, Autistic Disorder, Gene-Environment Interaction, Heritable Impacts of General Anesthesia, Sevoflurane