The NIH, under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will launch a study to find autism's cause and cure, collecting data from various private sources like pharmacies and wearables. This plan, criticized as unethical and a privacy violation by advocates, aims to analyze a vast dataset to identify potential environmental toxins linked to autism's increased prevalence. While the initial September deadline was pushed back, the project faces significant pushback due to concerns about data security and the potential misuse of sensitive personal health information.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.