Autism

Did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suppress the results of a study that purportedly showed an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delays in newborns who were given a Hepatitis B vaccine during the first month of life? No, that's not true: The results of the study have been available for decades. The early findings of the two-phase study…

Does heavy metal detox cure autism? No, that's not true: An expert told Lead Stories there is "no evidence" that substantiates the claim that taking something for a "heavy metal detox" can cure autism. There is no known cause or cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other experts say, as of the publication…

Do worms cause autism? No, that's not true: An expert told Lead Stories that there is "no scientific evidence" that supports the claim, made in a video on TikTok, that worms cause autism. There is no definitively known cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder, as of the publication of this fact check. Research has shown only that there are genetic and…

Does this image show an unidentified boy in the care of police officers after being found "roaming around"? No, that's not true: The boy in the picture actually helped locate someone else -- an older man with Alzheimer's disease. The posts are a part of a common deceptive method of spamming to advertise real estate in local areas. The claim…

Does resonant frequency therapy with the Rife machine cure cancer? No, that's not true: A video making that claim provides very little evidence that Rife machines work. A medical doctor who specializes in radiation oncology and a nursing professor both told Lead Stories that Rife machines do not cure cancer, and there is no evidence that they do. The energy…

Is Tylenol use during pregnancy linked to autism? No, there's no evidence to support that. Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD - archived here) is a complex developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC - archived here), little is known about its specific causes. Diagnosing ASD can be difficult…

Are the ingredients put in vaccines toxic to people? No, that's not true: Before a vaccine is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it's tested and evaluated in labs. While there are substances used in the production of the shots that are toxic to humans,…

Does eucalyptus oil help cure hallucinations or take away symptoms of autism? No, that's not true: Eucalyptus oil does have destressing properties, according to a psychiatry professor, but there are no credible scientific publications proving eucalyptus oil can cure psychosis or autism. The FDA advises that consumers should not use an essential oil to treat serious diseases or conditions and…

Does raw food cure a laundry list of health conditions including autism, HIV and cancer? No, that's not true: Raw food, specifically raw fruits and vegetables, holds both health benefits and dangers. There is no substantial research to determine the relationship between raw food and several health conditions. The claim appeared in the caption of a Facebook Live video (archived…

Do gematria codes used by conspiracy theories always result in matches? Yes, that's true: Gematria is a form of numerology in which the letters of the alphabet are substituted with corresponding numbers. A single word or phrase can yield several values depending on which alphanumerical cipher is used. Gematria is popular with conspiracy theorists, looking to find hidden connections or…