Wednesday, February 19, 2025

RFK Jr. says gov. ignores chronic disease, but that’s misguided

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RFK Jr. Says Gov. Ignores Chronic Disease, But That’s Misguided – NBC Chicago

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made clear in testimony before the Senate this week that if confirmed as Health and Human Services secretary, his focus would be on chronic diseases over infectious ones.

We’ve devoted all of these dollars to infectious disease and to drug development and very little to chronic disease, Kennedy said Thursday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Chronic Diseases on the Rise

Kennedy described himself as uniquely positioned to “end the chronic disease epidemic” in the United States, which he blamed for high health care costs. His opening statements mentioned rising rates of diabetes, cancer, asthma, and obesity as issues that should be prioritized, along with chronic disease rates among children. (Although Kennedy stated that 66% of kids have a chronic condition, data from the National Survey of Children’s Health suggests it’s around 40%.)

Government Funding

In testimony before two Senate committees this week, Kennedy faced questions about his history of anti-vaccine rhetoric, promotion of conspiracy theories, and shifting views on abortion. He was met with fierce opposition from some Democratic senators, as well as reservations from the chair of the health committee, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who is a doctor.

If confirmed, Kennedy would oversee a $1.7 trillion annual budget and 13 agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to the hearings, Kennedy had suggested taking an eight-year break from researching infectious diseases like Covid and measles.

In his statements to senators, Kennedy claimed that infectious diseases receive significantly more federal funding than chronic diseases. But government records suggest the opposite: Infectious diseases ranked ninth on the list of research subjects funded by the NIH last year, receiving $8.1 billion.

Chronic Disease Funding

Compare that to a single chronic disease — cancer — that received nearly the same amount of funding in 2024. Brain disorders received $8.9 billion.

Many of the other diseases Kennedy named also receive billions in federal funding, including Alzheimer’s ($3.9 billion), diabetes ($1.2 billion), and cardiovascular diseases ($2.9 billion).

Autism Research

When it comes to autism — a chronic disease that Kennedy has falsely linked to vaccines, a stance he did not disavow in the hearings — federal funding has grown for more than a decade according to Statista, a data information group. NIH funding for autism research amounted to $305 million in 2024, the group found, compared with $169 million in 2011.

Expert Insights

Researchers have attributed much of the increase in autism rates to greater awareness and advances in diagnostic capabilities. Much of the risk of developing autism is genetic, though parents having kids later in life and environmental factors like air pollution may also play a role.

Joel Kaufman, a physician-epidemiologist at the University of Washington, said increases in certain chronic diseases could have to do with improvements in the prevention and treatment of infectious disease, which has in turn allowed people to survive what could otherwise have been fatal illnesses and live longer.

“What causes most disease and disability now has transitioned in wealthy economies across the world from communicable infectious diseases to chronic diseases,” he said. “Part of that is just the success that we’ve had in managing infectious diseases.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Kennedy’s concerns about chronic diseases are valid, his assertion that infectious diseases receive more federal funding is misguided. Chronic diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, receive significant funding from the NIH and other federal agencies. Moreover, many chronic diseases have infectious etiologies, and research into these connections is crucial for developing effective treatments and prevention strategies.

FAQs

Q: What is the current focus of the NIH on chronic diseases?
A: The NIH has a significant focus on chronic diseases, with billions of dollars allocated to research and treatment of conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Q: Is it true that infectious diseases receive more federal funding than chronic diseases?
A: No, government records suggest that chronic diseases receive more federal funding than infectious diseases.

Q: What is the role of environmental toxins in chronic diseases?
A: While there is some evidence that environmental toxins may play a role in chronic diseases, the scientific consensus is that genetics, lifestyle factors, and other environmental factors are more significant contributors.

Q: What is the connection between infectious diseases and chronic diseases?
A: Many chronic diseases have infectious etiologies, and research into these connections is crucial for developing effective treatments and prevention strategies.

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