Of the many firsts and amid changing health guidelines in the US, the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration, Robert F Kennedy Jr. held his first press conference on Wednesday. In the press conference, he made it clear that investigating the rising rates of autism in the US is one of his top priorities.

Autism - An "Epidemic"

Speaking in Washington, he labelled autism as an "epidemic". He also went ahead and questioned the mainstream explanation like better screening and diagnosis. His comments further followed a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that showed a slight uptick in autism prevalence among 8-year-olds. IT sparked renewed debate on what is really driving these numbers?

What Did The New CDC Report Find?

According to the CDC report released a day before Kennedy’s press conference, about 1 in 31 8-year-old children had autism in 2022. The data, collected from 16 states, showed considerable variation in prevalence—from around 1% in Texas to 5.3% in California. Notably, the prevalence among boys was higher, with California showing a rate of 1 in 12.5 boys.

The CDC attributes the rise to improved awareness as well ass access to evaluations and expanded services. This is in particular to underdiagnosed communities. The study also found that children from lower-income households and non-White backgrounds were now being diagnosed at higher rates, which was not the case historically. The experts have also reflected on more equitable access to services, not a sudden increase in cases.

Kennedy Rejects Diagnostic Progress

RFK, however, disagreed with this interpretation and argued that the rise in autism is not simply due to better detection or evolving diagnostic criteria.

“We need to move away from the ideology that this is all due to better diagnosis,” he said, calling such reasoning a form of “epidemic denial.”

Despite scientific consensus that improved screening plays a role in increasing numbers, Kennedy insisted the upward trend was too steep to be explained by diagnostics alone. He described the current rate as “catastrophic” and accused critics of ignoring hard science.

Genes vs Environmental Toxins

One of RFK's main argument is, of course centred on environmental exposure. He believes that "environmental toxins: which had been introduced by different industries, as the real cause of autism, though he did not provide specific evidence as per his claims. As per Kennedy, these toxins could be in the air, water, and even medicines and food.

While he acknowledged that some people may have a genetic vulnerability, he dismissed the role of genetics alone, calling genetic studies a “dead end.” However, most researchers agree that autism likely results from a mix of genetic and environmental factors, and that no single cause explains the increase.

A 2021 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics also supported this multi-factor explanation, noting that a combination of both genetics and environmental factors may be involved in rising autism diagnoses.

"Some" results by September

RFK Jr. also announced that he has initiated a large-scale research effort to find out what is exactly happening with the rise in the number of autism cases and how environmental factors may be responsible for it. He also promised President Trump that this initiative would, in fact, produce "some" results by September and would involve experts from around the globe.

He went ahead to criticize the CDC for releasing data with a two-year lag and vowed to provide real-time updates going forward.

Kennedy also said his team would investigate a wide range of potential triggers, including mold, pesticides, and food additives.

How The Public Reacted?

Not everyone is on board with Kennedy’s framing. The Autism Society of America criticized his use of the word “epidemic,” saying that rising rates reflect progress in diagnosis, not a national crisis. “We must use prevalence data to drive access, not fear or political rhetoric,” said Christopher Banks, president of the organization.

Dr. Doreen Samelson, a clinical officer with California’s Catalight network, also pushed back against Kennedy’s claims. “It’s not simply more autism—it’s more awareness and access,” she said, urging a more nuanced interpretation of the CDC’s findings.

As the relationship between the US and China hit rock bottom, the White House has updated its COVID website, pinning the blame of the pandemic on China. The revamped website (www.whitehouse.gov) now reiterates the controversial Wuhan lab leak theory while also listing down 5 pointers supporting its claim. Notably, the website also targets Anthony Fauci, former chief medical advisor to President Biden, for advancing what it calls the "preferred narrative that Covid-19 originated naturally."

Here's Everything You Need To Know

The US Administration created the aforementioned website to spread information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for the deaths of millions in the US. Previously, the website focused on promoting vaccine and testing information related to COVID-19. However, it now includes a full-length image of President Donald Trump along with 5 points that promote the Wuhan lab leak theory. Here's what it states:

1. The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature.

2. Data shows that all COVID-19 cases stem from a single introduction into humans. This runs contrary to previous pandemics where there were multiple spillover events.

3. Wuhan is home to China’s foremost SARS research lab, which has a history of conducting gain-of-function research (gene altering and organism supercharging) at inadequate biosafety levels.

4. Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers were sick with COVID-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before COVID-19 was discovered at the wet market.

5. By nearly all measures of science, if there were evidence of a natural origin, it would have already surfaced. But it hasn’t.

Notably, the revamped site, which seeks to redefine the narrative about COVID, also criticises the masks and social distancing mandates introduced at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

What Is Wuhan Lab Leak Theory?

As the name suggests, this theory claims that the lethal coronavirus was created in a lab in the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), from where it escaped. The WIV, which has been studying coronaviruses in bats for over a decade, is only a 40-minute drive from the Huanan wet market where the first cluster of infections emerged. Those who entertain the theory say it could have leaked from a WIV lab and spread to the wet market. Interestingly, many also argue it would have been an unaltered virus collected from the wild, rather than engineered.

Is Wuhan Lab Leak Theory True?

Ever since the research on tracing the origins of COVID-19 began, Trump has accused China of "synthetising" the deadly coronairus. Earlier in 2020, adressing a press meet, he questioned Xi Jinping administration, saying, "Whether they (China) made a mistake, or whether it started off as a mistake and then they made another one, or did somebody do something on purpose?"

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2021 sent a team of scientists to Wuhan to trace the origin of the virus. However, after spending 12 days there, which included a visit to the laboratory, the team concluded the lab-leak theory was "extremely unlikely". However, this did not go well with Trump, who accused the global health agency of conspiring with China and also labelled it as a "PR agency" of China. After taking office this year, Trump pulled out funding from the WHO, citing its non-compliance with the Wuhan lab leak theory as one of the main reasons.

Even as the debate behind the COVID origin theory remains unresolved, US agencies such as the FBI and the Department of Energy have come out in support of the theory, albeit with varying levels of confidence. Earlier this year, the CIA shifted its official stance on the virus's origin, saying that it was "more likely" leaked from a Chinese lab than transmission from animals. The assessment drew criticism from China, which said it was "extremely unlikely" that COVID-19 came from a laboratory.

For years, health experts and lifestyle gurus have been telling us that moderate alcohol consumption—so defined by some as a daily glass of wine or a weekend couple of beers—is not especially bad for you. A party drink with colleagues, a pre-dinner cocktail, or an evening nightcap to relax were all part of a healthy, balanced existence. New research is now breaking that myth, showing that even supposedly "moderate" drinking may be quietly harming our brains.

Based on researchers, even what most people would define as moderate drinking—just eight drinks of alcohol per week—may cause serious brain damage in the long run. A recent study released in Neurology, which was based on an analysis of almost 1,800 subjects from the UK Biobank, has come to a shocking conclusion: consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week may dramatically increase the risk of brain damage, even if you are not what society usually defines as a "heavy drinker."

The study, conducted by vascular health specialist Dr. Alberto Fernando Oliveira Justo, divided participants according to alcohol intake: never drinkers, moderate drinkers (seven drinks or less a week), previous heavy drinkers, and current heavy drinkers (those drinking more than eight drinks a week).

The findings of the team created eyebrows within the scientific world. Among people who never drank at all, 40% of them presented brain lesions—destruction of the tiny brain vessels. However, among the moderate drinkers, this figure reached 45%. Among heavy drinkers, it climbed to 44%, and highest, at 50%, was seen among heavy drinkers who had already quit drinking.

More troubling, moderate drinkers were discovered to be 60% more prone to the development of brain lesions than abstainers. In previous heavy drinkers, the risk rose by 89%, while among current heavy drinkers, the risk increased to 133%.

These lesions—which are called by doctors hyaline arteriolosclerosis—aren't just a joke. They form when small vessels deep in the brain become stiff and hardened, compromising blood supply. Eventually, such impairment will impact memory, capacity for learning, and intellectual function.

What Are Brain Lesions and Why Are They Important?

Brain lesions are not something you can see or touch right away, but they're very destructive. One of the most alarming types that this study points out is hyaline arteriolosclerosis, which is usually a result of high blood pressure or diabetes. Alcohol can now be added to the list.

These microalterations in the blood vessels of the brain lead to lower oxygen and nutrient delivery, which can cause cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and in the long run, diseases such as Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

The research also revealed a higher level of tau tangles—protein clumps in the brains of individuals suffering from Alzheimer's—among heavy drinkers. Even individuals who had stopped drinking continued to have higher levels of these markers of neurodegeneration, indicating the damage may be irreversible once it has been inflicted.

Cognitive Decline and Decreased Brain Volume

The neurological effects didn't remain limited to lesions and tangles. Ex-heavy drinkers in the study had a lower brain mass ratio—i.e., their brains had contracted more than those of teetotalers. This physical contraction came along with diminished cognitive function, illustrating that the harm caused by alcohol can reach far beyond fleeting memory loss or hangover-brained fog.

Even more sobering was the statistic that heavy drinkers tend to die an average of 13 years earlier than non-drinkers. This finding underscores how deeply alcohol can impact not just quality of life, but its overall length.

This should raise major concerns, especially given how normalized heavy drinking has become in social settings and pop culture. From happy hours to boozy brunches, our weekly schedules often revolve around alcohol. But it’s time we ask—at what cost?

Also Read: Cardiologist Shares 4 Worst Drinks For Your Heart

Are Moderate Drinkers Safe?

Not necessarily. Although the dangers were less than those encountered by heavy drinkers, the research implies that even small amounts of drinking might ultimately lead to subtle but significant brain changes over time. These may not be immediately apparent but could arise later in life as memory lapses, confusion, and other symptoms of mental decline.

Interestingly, the research indicated that even former heavy drinkers continued to bear the impact of their past activity. Their chances of brain lesions and decreased brain mass continued to be extremely high, affirming the fact that the brain would not completely heal even when the individual gives up alcohol.

This calls into question the oft-held view that giving up alcohol "restores" your health. Although going dry undoubtedly has advantages and should avoid further harm, it might not heal the damage already done to the brain.

With brain damage, impaired cognition, and reduced lifespan increasingly being discussed as part of the alcohol talk, it's absolutely important to rethink what constitutes too much. Opting for brain-healthy alternatives—herbal tea, sparkling water, or mocktails—won't carry the same cache, but they're safer wagers for your long-term health.

Health professionals and lawmakers must take this information into account in revising drinking recommendations. And as individuals, perhaps it's time to trade the evening glass of wine or weekend cocktail for brain-boosting equivalents—herb-infused sparkling water, non-beer craft drinks, or just tea.

Patients taking a widely used blood pressure drug are being advised to verify their medication after a batch was recalled due to incorrect dosage information printed on the packaging. According to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), some packs of lercanidipine, manufactured by Recordati Pharmaceuticals, have been wrongly labelled as containing 10mg tablets, when in fact they contain 20mg tablets.

Over 7000 Packs Are Subject To Recall

More than 7,700 packs already distributed are now subject to the recall, the MHRA has confirmed. Patients who may have the mislabelled medication are being urged to contact their GP, pharmacist, or call NHS 111 for advice. The NHS warns that consuming an excessive dose of lercanidipine can lead to symptoms such as dizziness and drowsiness. The MHRA issued the alert on Thursday after being informed by the Italian pharmaceutical company Recordati that the error was confined to a single batch of lercanidipine, which was initially distributed on April 10. The recalled packs carry the batch number MD4L07 and are marked with an expiry date of January 2028.

Although the front of the affected packs displays the incorrect strength, the correct 20mg dose is printed on the blister strips inside and on the side of some of the boxes. The MHRA advises patients who have been prescribed the 20mg dose to check the blister packaging to ensure they have received the correct medication. However, those prescribed 10mg tablets should seek immediate medical attention if they have this batch.

As a temporary measure, the MHRA suggests that patients who cannot reach a healthcare provider may take half of a 20mg tablet until they receive professional guidance. Dr Alison Cave, the MHRA’s chief safety officer, stated: "Healthcare professionals such as pharmacists are also being asked to stop supplying medicine from the affected batch and to return it to the supplier." She encouraged anyone experiencing suspected side effects to report them through the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.

In a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson for Recordati said the company is "working proactively" with the MHRA and will contact all customers who might have received the affected batch. “We are investigating the root cause and continue to work with our partners to isolate the issue and minimise disruption to our patients. Patient safety remains our top priority,” the spokesperson added.

What Do We Know About Lercanidipine?

Lercanidipine is used in the treatment of Angina (heart-related chest pain), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Arrhythmia, hypertensive emergency, subarachnoid haemorrhage and anal fissure. According to the NHS, it is one of the four types of blood pressure medicines sold across the UK. These pills are a calcium channel blocker. That means it regulates blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and reducing pressure on them, thereby making it easier for the heart to pump more blood throughout the body. In this way, it normalises the blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure.

ALSO READ: RFK Jr.'s Autism Controversial Comments Face Backlash From Parents And Medical Experts