Unprecedented? Not Quite.

President Harry Truman once remarked, “There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.” It’s a quote worth remembering whenever we’re tempted to believe we’re living through unprecedented times.

What feels unprecedented often isn’t—and that is certainly true today.

Autism Under the Microscope
Autism remains at the center of a wide-ranging search for answers about its causes. The Wall Street Journal reported today that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to release a report later this month suggesting possible links between autism, low folate levels during pregnancy, and the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) by pregnant women. The report may also propose that a folate-derived medication could help ease symptoms for some individuals.

But experts caution: an association does not equal causation. Most scientists agree autism results from a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors—not a single trigger. Just as in earlier health crises, it’s tempting to seize on a simple, tangible explanation. History shows us, however, that reality is rarely that simple.

Blame the Cone?
Consider the polio epidemics of the early 20th century. Sweeping across the United States, polio terrified parents and baffled scientists. The disease, which could paralyze or even kill, struck hardest in the summer months. Observers noticed something else: ice cream sales also peaked in the summer. The leap was quick and confident—ice cream must be causing polio!

Parents were warned to stop feeding their children ice cream, and sales plummeted. The theory was, of course, wrong. Polio wasn’t hiding in sundaes or cones—it spread primarily through person-to-person contact, often via contaminated water.

But ice cream wasn’t the only scapegoat. Some blamed cornflakes. Others claimed children caught polio because they slouched at their school desks. The most tragic theory of all pointed to pets. In New York City, panicked residents turned in their animals or released them onto the streets. More than 70,000 cats and 8,000 dogs were killed during that epidemic—all without evidence they played any role in spreading the disease.

A Communist Plot?
History offers yet another example: fluoride in drinking water. In the 1950s, scientists promoted fluoridation as a safe, effective way to prevent tooth decay. But opponents saw something darker. The John Birch Society, led by Robert Welch—who, not coincidentally, was also a candy manufacturer—denounced it as a communist plot to poison Americans. The conspiracy spread faster than cavities, fueling heated debates for years. Yet decades of evidence have shown fluoridated water to be both safe and beneficial.

Lessons from the Past
From autism today to polio and fluoride in the past, the pattern is strikingly familiar. When faced with uncertainty, we often reach for explanations that fit our fears or preconceptions—even when the facts don’t align.

Yet history has a way of repeating itself, and noticing these patterns gives us the power to act differently. It’s a chance to think smarter, ask better questions, and make decisions guided by evidence rather than fear.

Happy reading,
Suzanne Daniels

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]

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