One in 36 children is now estimated to have autism, reported today by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report released today by the CDC is an update of autism’s estimated prevalence among 8-year-old children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the United States in 2020. This is an increase from 2018 when the estimate was 1 in 44 children. They also report for the first-time higher prevalence rates among Black, Hispanic, and Asian or Pacific Islander (A/PI) children compared to White children. Click here to read the CDC report.
The increase in awareness and diagnosis of ASD, along with the limitations of current therapies, has necessitated more research to understand the underlying causes and mechanisms of ASD. Never has there been a more important time to invest in CART. Transformative changes in medicine and neuroscience, including genomics and big data provide unique opportunities for precision diagnosis and treatment development. Private philanthropy continues to be essential to advancing innovative research and clinical care. No matter where your passion or interest lies, when you invest in CART, your generosity has an outsize impact for CART and into the world. To learn how to get involved and support UCLA CART, please contact Chris Carbado, Senior Director of Development for UCLA Health Sciences at 310-562-6488 or ccarbado@mednet.ucla.edu.