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• Legendary actor Val Kilmer of ‘Top Gun’ fame passed away at 65 at his Los Angeles home.
• Kilmer’s daughter shared that the cause was pneumonia, an infectious disease of the lungs.
• Experts say Kilmer’s previous treatment for throat cancer and his age may have been contributing factors.
• It’s recommended that older adults protect their health by getting regular vaccinations, particularly against pneumonia.

Actor Val Kilmer, perhaps best known for his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the films “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” has died at 65.

Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, announced her father had died of pneumonia on April 1 at his Los Angeles home.

Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi that inflame the air sacs in the lungs, causing them to fill with pus or fluid. Symptoms generally include fever, chills, coughing, and problems with breathing.

This potentially fatal condition is most dangerous for infants and young children, people with weakened immune systems and other health problems, and adults ages 65 and older.

Kilmer previously battled with throat cancer in 2014. However, his daughter told The New York Times he had recovered from the disease.

Kilmer’s throat cancer, age were risk factors for pneumonia

Emma Lin, MD, a board certified pulmonologist, sleep medicine specialist, and co-founder of ReadyO2.com, explained to Healthline that Kilmer’s previous cancer battle, as well as his age, may have left him more prone to pneumonia.

“Many patients I’ve had who’ve survived throat cancer come to me with lung issues later on,” she said.

Lin added that radiation therapies used to treat throat cancer can weaken a person’s lungs, making infections like pneumonia more likely to develop.

“I always remember this when working with patients who’ve had cancer in the past,” she said. “Although they may appear well, their lungs will be weaker than normal.”

William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and health policy and professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said that, in general, people with throat cancer have a more difficult time clearing their mouth and throat.

“The secretions can be aspirated, that is, ‘go down the wrong tube’ into their airway — the bronchial tubes,” he told Healthline.

When these secretions make their way into the lungs, it can lead to inflammation and what is known as “aspiration pneumonia,” Schaffner explained.

Lin noted that increasing age is associated with a greater risk for pneumonia.

“I see a great many patients, particularly elderly patients, who are vulnerable to catching pneumonia,” she said.

Lin explained pneumonia can be more harmful to older individuals because their immune systems may not be as effective at eliminating infections as when they were younger.

What older adults can do to prevent pneumonia

Olalekan Otulana, MD, a general practitioner with Cassiobury Court, strongly recommends keeping up to date with your vaccinations.

“That includes the pneumococcal vaccine and the annual flu jab,” Otulana told Healthline, noting that vaccines may significantly reduce the risk of severe illness.

“Maintaining good overall health also plays a big role,” he added. “Stopping smoking, staying active, eating well, and managing chronic conditions if present (e.g., diabetes [or] heart disease) all help keep the immune system strong and lungs functioning well.”

Lin spoke of the importance of practicing good hygiene to prevent the spread of infections.

“It also helps if they keep their hands clean by washing them frequently as well as avoiding close contact with people who are ill,” she said.

For people with long-term health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart disease, it’s crucial to follow your doctor’s advice, Lin said.

“It may involve regular use of inhalers or other medicines as prescribed by your doctor,” she noted.

Lin further advised that older adults remain active. “I explain to my patients that a short walk each day keeps the lungs functioning properly and builds a strong immune system,” she said.

Finally, Lin suggests making sure you get adequate sleep. “Sleep allows the body to heal and recover from infections,” she said.

According to the National Institute on Aging (NIH), adults over 65 need about 7–9 hours of sleep per night.

What we can learn from Kilmer’s passing

Kilmer’s death highlights the serious risks of pneumonia, especially to older adults and those with a history of illness.

While his talents on screen made him a beloved Hollywood icon, his health journey and battle with cancer highlight the importance of pneumonia prevention, which may be supported through vaccinations and maintaining overall wellness.

As fans remember Kilmer for his legendary performances, health experts emphasize that simple steps, such as staying active and following medical advice, can help reduce the risk of pneumonia and other respiratory infections.

• The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether states can deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood because the organization’s clinics perform abortions.
• The Trump administration has also temporarily frozen $27 million in Title X family planning funding designated for Planned Parenthood.
• Experts say these funding reductions would reduce the health services provided by the organization, most impacting lower-income households and people in rural areas.

The U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating over whether states have the right to deny Medicaid reimbursement funding to Planned Parenthood.

The high court heard legal arguments on April 2 in a case stemming from South Carolina, where state leaders have decreed that Planned Parenthood should not receive Medicaid funding for any of its array of health services because abortions are performed at its clinics.

The justices are expected to announce their decision in the case as early as June. For now, the court appears divided over the issue, according to the Associated Press.

The question before the court is a technical one. It centers on whether a Medicaid recipient can sue over the right to choose their own healthcare provider.

However, experts say a ruling in favor of South Carolina would limit the healthcare choices of people on Medicaid. Many of those patients say it can be difficult to find a healthcare professional outside of Planned Parenthood that accepts Medicaid.

 “The Supreme Court is about to decide whether or not people who use Medicaid can fight against politically-driven, illegally-driven policies that want to take away access to their right to use government-based insurance to decide which provider they want to have,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on Crooked Media’s “What a Day” podcast in a statement.

The court hearing came just days after the Trump administration announced it is withholding tens of millions of dollars in Title X funding from Planned Parenthood as it looks into whether the organization is violating federal civil rights laws and President Donald Trump’s executive orders.

Experts said the court ruling and the Title X decision could have far-reaching consequences.

“The impacts could be significant,” Therea Cheng, MD, an assistant clinical professor of emergency medicine at the University of California San Francisco, told Healthline. “Planned Parenthood is a lifeline to basic reproductive health for many low-income people.”

“Continuing to defund the work of women’s health supporters like Planned Parenthood is dangerous and leaves millions of people without resources,” Cynthia Plotch, co-founder of the women’s health products company Winx Health, told Healthline. “Now more than ever, it’s critical we continue fighting for education, resources, and solutions.”

Medicaid and Planned Parenthood

Since 1977, the Hyde Amendment approved by Congress has prohibited the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services, with only a few exceptions.

According to Planned Parenthood’s most recent annual report, there were 392,000 abortions performed at the organization’s nearly 600 health centers in 2023.

That was out of more than 9 million overall health services provided to 2 million people. Among the services were more than 4 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and more than 2 million services involving birth control. There were also more than 400,000 pap smears and breast exams.

In addition, more than 1 million people used Planned Parenthood as a resource for education, programming, outreach, and training.

About 34% of Planned Parenthood’s revenues, nearly $700 million, comes from funding such as Medicaid, government grants, and contracts.

Experts say denying Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood reduces all the health services the organization offers and limits the options for the lower-income households the federal program covers.

“This is creating a possible restriction of access for many patients for services that have nothing to do with abortion,” Lisa Valle, DO, OB-GYN and medical director of Oasis Women’s Sexual Function Center in Santa Monica, CA, told Healthline.

“People turn to Planned Parenthood… not only for reproductive care but also for lifesaving cancer screenings,” added Plotch.

“Defunding access will hurt our communities, leaving many without options. The reality is stark: when women don’t know their options, they can’t access them. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when women’s health is relegated to whispers behind closed doors.”

Planned Parenthood and Title X funds

Title X has provided funding for family planning programs for more than 50 years.

Among the services it funds are birth control, pregnancy testing, assistance for becoming pregnant, and infertility services.

The Trump administration has temporarily frozen $27 million in Title X funds to Planned Parenthood due to “possible violations” of executive orders that prohibited promotions based on diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as “taxpayer subsidization of open borders.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has given Planned Parenthood 10 days to respond to the allegations.

Experts say this reduction in funding could have a wide range of impacts.

“It’s endangering the health and welfare of families across the country,” said Cheng. “It’s creating chaos for providers and patients.”

“Planned Parenthood is the only source of healthcare for patients who can’t get healthcare elsewhere,” noted Valle.

“Title X funding supports critical healthcare services, like cervical and breast cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and HIV services. Clinics that rely on these funds may have to cut back on preventive care, potentially leading to higher rates of undiagnosed conditions,” said Plotch.

“Simply put, the reduction of Title X funding poses a serious threat to reproductive health care access, particularly for low-income women, rural communities, and marginalized groups,” she added. “This will lead to worse health outcomes, increased unintended pregnancies, and greater health disparities across the country. We deserve better.”

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• A new restriction on the sale of compounded weight loss drugs containing the active ingredient semaglutide is scheduled to take effect in about a month.
• Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are taking steps to help make their brand-name weight loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy more affordable.
• Two people who have been taking compounded weight loss drugs shared they can’t afford the more expensive medications and are concerned they could regain the weight they’ve lost.

Bailey Fields has experienced weight management issues her entire life.

The concerns have become more acute in recent years after the 27-year-old newly married resident of Hutchison, MN, was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition that, among other things, can lead to weight gain and potentially type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Similarly, Todd Kennedy has had difficulty with his weight for the past two decades.

The 45-year-old married father of two daughters who lives in Lenoir City, TN, underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2015, a procedure that produced limited results.

However, Kennedy and Fields told Healthline they each found an effective and affordable solution for weight loss last summer.

Fields was prescribed a compounded weight loss drug containing the active ingredient semaglutide that she could purchase for $199 a month from the website Hims & Hers. Fields said she’s since lost 35 pounds since starting the medication.

Kennedy was also prescribed a compounded semaglutide medication available on Hims & Hers for $165 per month. He’s lost 30 pounds since he started taking the drug.

“It worked by suppressing my appetite,” Kennedy said. “I wasn’t as hungry.”

“Nothing else has been as effective for me in the past,” Fields added.

FDA halts sales of compounded semaglutide

Fields and Kennedy may soon be among the consumers who could lose access to these less expensive weight loss medications.

That’s because of orders from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that prohibit the sale of these compounded drugs.

A ban on compounded versions of weight loss drugs that contain the active ingredient tirzepatide took effect on March 19.

A similar prohibition on compounded semaglutide medications is scheduled to go into effect on April 22.

The bans follow the FDA’s updated guidance for compounding pharmacies manufacturing less expensive versions of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s weight loss medications Zepbound and Mounjaro.

The FDA announced the updated guidance after a federal judge ruled against the Outsourcing Facilities Association, which had filed a lawsuit on behalf of compounding pharmacies selling tirzepatide medications.

A similar lawsuit is being considered on behalf of pharmacies that produce the less expensive versions of semaglutide drugs.

The FDA does not approve compounded drugs, so the agency cannot verify their safety, effectiveness, or quality. However, they can be sold under certain circumstances.

Telehealth providers such as Eden, Mochi, Ro, and Hims & Hers have been allowed to sell alternative versions of drugs since December 2022 due to a shortage of weight loss drugs caused by increased demand for the products.

However, in December 2024, FDA officials announced that the medication shortage had ended and began prohibiting the sale of compounded weight loss drugs.

“The reason there is so much demand is because, at this time, these drugs are the most effective medications for weight loss,” Mir Ali, MD, a general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, told Healthline.

Consumers searching for less expensive weight loss drugs

Novo Nordisk and El Lilly have taken steps to lower the price of their popular weight loss medications.

In February, Eli Lilly announced it would sell its 7.5- and 10-milligram vials of Zepbound for $499 per month when consumers fill out their initial prescription and for any refills ordered within 45 days of the previous prescription. Otherwise, the monthly price will be $599 for the smaller vials and $699 for the larger vials.

Consumers buying the discounted medications must use LillyDirect, the company’s cash payment website, and be prescribed Zepbound for either obesity or obstructive sleep apnea.

This past week, Novo Nordisk announced that eligible cash-paying customers can purchase Wegovy at local pharmacies for $499 monthly.

These discounts, however, might not be enough for some consumers, including Fields and Kennedy.

Both told Healthline their health insurance companies won’t cover the drugs, and they’re not sure they can afford to purchase the brand-name medications.

They expressed concern about weight regain without the drugs even if they continue their current diet and exercise routines.

“I’m concerned I’ll start to slip back,” said Kennedy.

“I don’t know what will happen if I stop taking it,” Bailey said. “The medication allows my body to use the tools I give it.”

Bailey noted that she has tried every diet and exercise plan. None of them have been effective on their own.

“That’s not how my body works,” she explained.

Bailey and Kennedy say the FDA should continue to give consumers a wide range of choices on weight loss drugs.

“It gives people a tool,” Kennedy said. “I feel that taking away a valuable and effective tool isn’t benefitting anybody.”

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• A new Norwegian study finds that one hour of screen time at bedtime results in a 59% higher risk of insomnia and 24 fewer minutes of sleep.
• The findings indicate that social media use is no more disruptive to sleep than watching TV or movies or reading on a mobile device.
• While there is some controversy about the negative effects of blue light on sleep quality, there is widespread agreement that exposure to bright light in general before bed may lead to poor sleep.

Many people simply do not get enough sleep, despite the known health benefits of quality shuteye.

According to the Casper-Gallup State of Sleep in America report, about 84 million American adults, or 33%, describe the quality of their sleep as “fair” or “poor.” For young adults, that percentage rises to 38%.

In addition, just 35% of United States residents were likely to get the recommended eight hours of sleep daily.

While multiple factors affect sleep quality and duration, a new Norwegian study finds that spending time on your mobile phone at bedtime can result in poorer-quality sleep and insufficient sleep.

The findings show that each one-hour increase in screen use raised insomnia risk by 59% and shortened sleep duration by 24 minutes.

The study included 45,202 young adults ages 18 to 28, and investigated different types of screen activity and their effect on sleep. The full results were published March 31 in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

“While previous research has often suggested that social media use is particularly disruptive to sleep, our findings challenge this notion,” senior author Børg Sivertsen, PhD, senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, told Healthline.

The study tracked activities such as social media use, watching TV and movies, gaming, listening to music or podcasts, and reading. Sivertsen said follow-up research will include using a phone for work-related matters before bed.

Does blue light impact sleep?

Previous research has indicated that light waves from electronic displays — particularly in the blue range of the visible spectrum — can disrupt sleep and disturb the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

There is evidence that blue light exposure at bedtime dysregulates the production of the hormone melatonin, which helps promote and maintain sleep. As a result, many phone manufacturers now offer blue-light filtering features for late-day use on their devices.

Blue-wavelength light is beneficial during the daytime, increasing attentiveness, improving mood, and shortening reaction times.

However, not all research supports concerns regarding blue light and sleep.

A recent study tracked how blue-to-yellow light exposure for an hour before bedtime affected the sleep of 16 participants. The researchers found no real difference between the hues. According to their findings, sleep may be equally disturbed by bright light of any color.

Leah Kaylor, PhD, MSCP, a clinical psychologist and author of a forthcoming book on sleep, remained concerned about blue light. However, she explained why bright light, in general, is likely a problem for sound sleep. Dr. Kaylor wasn’t involved in the study.

“We still have the same neural circuitry as our caveman ancestors whose lives and activities were ruled by the sun,” Kaylor told Healthline. “Since we still have the same circuitry, we can easily confuse the brain by being in the presence of light close to bedtime.”

Yet not everyone reacts to bright light in the same way.

“I think it is important to acknowledge that we inter-individually differ considerably in how light is able to suppress melatonin — about 50-fold,” Jonathan Cedernaes, PhD, a sleep expert at Uppsala Universitet, Sweden, told Healthline. Cedernaes wasn’t involved in the study.

Health effects of not getting enough sleep

Sufficient sleep is a vital component of good health. Not getting enough sleep has negative ramifications for most major systems within the human body, including the:

• central nervous system
• immune system
• respiratory system
• digestive system
• cardiovascular system
• endocrine system

Insufficient rest over time is a major risk factor for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke.

How social media use at bedtime affects sleep

Referring to his study, Sivertsen said, “Interestingly, students who exclusively used social media had the lowest rates of insomnia and the longest sleep duration compared to those who engaged in other screen activities or a mix of activities.”

His study hypothesizes social media participation may actually have less of an effect than other activities since the socialization it supports may be protective of sleep.

However, a 2019 study found that screen use of any kind appears to cause sleep problems for adolescents and younger children. This could include social media, watching television or movies, gaming, or e-reading.

“Adolescents tend to be more socially and emotionally reactive, making social interactions more stimulating and harder to disengage from before sleep,” Sivertsen speculated. “[They] often have a delayed sleep phase, meaning late-night social screen use could further shift their sleep schedule.”

Additionally, Cedernaes cited a meta-study of 125,000 children, which found that merely having access to media devices in the bedroom resulted in poorer sleep, even when children did not use them.

For college-age young adults, the social media pull remains strong: One survey found that 93% of Gen Z respondents reported staying up past their bedtime to partake in social media.

Kaylor expressed surprise at the Norwegian study’s conclusion regarding social media activities and concern that gaming was not tracked more closely, as she noted that it has been linked to greater sleep disruption elsewhere.

“Overall,” Kaylor said, “I find the results interesting but not strong, and more research needs to be done to truly support the claim that social media use in bed before sleep is protective. That claim is quite a stretch.”

Cedernaes suggested that unpacking the influence of social media on sleep issues is a difficult endeavor, with many possible confounding factors to be considered.

These include a person’s relationship with social media. For instance, do they find it relaxing or stress-inducing? Are they turning to their phones due to existing sleep problems? Does their screen use come at the end of stressful days?

Tips to practice good sleep hygiene

To help ensure a good night’s sleep:

• Limit your screen use in bed and just before bedtime. During that screen time, engage in passive activities that will not excite you too much. Consider listening to music or audiobooks.
• If you want to be sure you won’t be affected by blue light, turn on your phone’s nighttime blue-light filter. On Apple devices, it is called Night Shift. On Android devices, it may be called Night Light, Blue Light filter, or Eye Comfort Shield.
• Silence your notifications during your sleep period. Use your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode. Silence the phone and charge it in another room to ensure the noises it may make do not wake you from sleep. This will also prevent stray light while you sleep, should a device’s screen light due to some task it performs.
• If possible, set and follow a consistent bedtime and wakeup time. Your body will learn it, which can help your circadian rhythm adapt to your sleep needs.

As experts continue to clarify the relationship between mobile device use and healthy sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene makes good sense.

• The CDC will conduct research to determine if there is any link between childhood vaccinations and autism risk.
• Health experts have long said there is no substantial scientific evidence to connect vaccines with autism.
• Various factors may impact autism risk, with genetics being one of the strongest.
• Childhood vaccinations are generally considered safe and reduce the spread of infectious diseases like measles.
• Following routine vaccinations helps populations develop “herd immunity” to protect those who can’t receive vaccinations.

Despite a unanimous scientific consensus, health experts are once again defending the safety of childhood vaccines and so-called autism risk.

Health and Human Services (HHS) officials led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently confirmed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will investigate whether vaccines cause autism.

The public health announcement reignited a longstanding debate over a theory lacking substantial scientific evidence.

“As President Trump said in his Joint Address to Congress, the rate of autism in American children has skyrocketed. CDC will leave no stone unturned in its mission to figure out what exactly is happening,” a department statement said. “The American people expect high quality research and transparency and that is what CDC is delivering.”

Vaccines are widely regarded as safe and effective. However, vaccine skepticism and hesitancy have contributed to low childhood vaccination rates in the United States.

Vaccinations help prevent the spread of infectious diseases while protecting those who can’t receive them. Most health experts agree they do not cause autism.

No evidence linking vaccines and autism risk

Experts told Healthline there have been multitudes of reputable studies on the topic over the past 20 years, and none have established a definitive link between autism and childhood vaccines.

“The scientific community has researched this very thoroughly and there’s no evidence that childhood vaccine cause autism,” said Danelle Fisher, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.

“Scientists from around the world have approached this question in several different ways and none has found a relationship,” added Bryan King, MD, vice chair for child psychiatry and a professor in the school of medicine at the University of California San Francisco. “Scientists have also looked at whether different preservatives in vaccines could have an effect and none exists.”

Experts reaffirmed the importance of children receiving their scheduled vaccinations to prevent infectious and potentially deadly illnesses like measles from spreading. The growing measles outbreak that began in western Texas in January has been linked to low vaccination rates.

“In some ways, we are victims of our success when it comes to vaccines,” King said. “They can be so successful in preventing severe illness and death that we can lose sight of why we need or want to be protected from those potentially devastating diseases. We forget how devastating those diseases are.”

King and other experts noted that vaccinating the majority of children can help protect children who can’t receive vaccines because they are undergoing cancer treatment or have compromised immune systems.

“We need to cocoon these kids,” said Gina Posner, MD, a pediatrician at MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley, CA.

“It is incumbent upon everyone to be good community members,” added Fisher.

Facts about autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental conditions.

The conditions generally affect communication and social interaction. People on the autism spectrum often demonstrate restricted and repetitive interests or patterns of behavior, and language skills are often delayed in children.

The degree to which a person falls on the autism spectrum may vary greatly from person to person. Five subtypes of autism have been identified.

Most people are diagnosed with autism as children, but adults are sometimes diagnosed as well.

Some symptoms of autism may include:

• repetitive movements such as rocking or arm flapping
• lining up objects such as toys in a strict order
• repeating words and phrases over and over again
• becoming upset over minor changes in routines
• delayed movement, language, or cognitive skills
• excessive worry or stress
• unusual levels of fear (either higher or lower than expected)
• hyperactive, inattentive, or impulsive behaviors
• unexpected emotional reactions
• unusual eating habits or preferences
• unusual sleep patterns
• self-stimulating behaviors, known as “stimming“

Experts say early intervention when children are young can help ease symptoms and help autistic people improve their quality of life.

“Early intervention is amazing,” Posner told Healthline. Some early intervention therapies for autism may include:

• discrete trial training to encourage step-by-step learning
• early intensive behavior intervention with one-on-one therapy sessions that help children under 5
• verbal behavioral interventions
• positive behavior support
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• social skills training
• sensory integration therapy
• occupational therapy
• speech therapy
• medication (i.e., antipsychotics, antidepressants, or stimulants)

How prevalent is autism?

President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. have quoted figures saying autism rates in the U.S. have skyrocketed from 1 in 10,000 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 children today. The 1 in 10,000 number appears to come from a single study in the 1960s.

The CDC reports that autism rates have more likely increased from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 today.

The agency also notes that an autism diagnosis is four times more common in boys than it is in girls.

Experts note they believe the increase in autism rates in the past two decades is due to better diagnosis of the condition. King points out that vaccination rates have not increased in the past 10 years while the rate of autism diagnoses has gone up.

“The rate of autism is as much as it’s always been. Now, it’s just identified better,” Fisher told Healthline.

“A lot of it is we are better at diagnosing,” added Posner.

King added that “the definition of autism now includes a broader spectrum, which may partially explain the increase in prevalence over earlier estimates.”

Possible causes of autism

If vaccines don’t cause autism, then what does?

Experts say there are probably a multitude of factors behind the development of autism, but they say the number one reason is most likely genetics, noting that autism tends to be more common in some families than in others.

In 2023, researchers reported they had identified seven genes linked to an increased risk of autism.

When introducing their research results, they also noted that prior research has estimated that 50% of genetic risk can be predicted by common genetic variation, and another 15% to 20% is due to spontaneous mutations or predictable inheritance patterns.

“None of the hundreds of genes that contribute to the risk for autism is specific, that is, that a so-called autism gene always or only leads to autism,” King told Healthline. 

“But these genes disrupt the usual development or function of pathways in the brain in ways that significantly increase autism risk. The timing of these effects begins before birth, so as scientists look for causes of autism, the focus is on genes or environmental exposures that occur long before children are receiving immunizations,” he added.

Experts said that children of older parents tend to have higher autism risks due to the aging of sperm and eggs. A 2020 study determined that children born to older parents have a 50% higher risk of autism.

Posner added there is also evidence that premature infants have higher autism risks, as do children born to mothers with gestational diabetes.

“You can’t specifically point to one cause,” said Fisher. “No two autistic kids are the same.”

Takeaway

Officials at the CDC announced they will study whether childhood vaccines are a potential cause of autism.

Experts say there have been a multitude of scientific studies done on this subject over the past 20 years, and none have concluded that vaccinations are linked to autism risk.

Genetics is likely a top factor for autism risk. Children born to older parents, as well as those born prematurely or to mothers with gestational diabetes, may also have higher risks.

Children should continue to follow their recommended immunization schedules to prevent the spread of disease as well as to protect children who can’t receive vaccines.