Research Finds Vaccines Are Not Behind the Rise in Autism. So What Is? NYT | Top Stories Emily Baumgaertner 24 December 2024 at 02:32 There is no one factor that causes autism — or explains its growing prevalence. Researchers are seeking explanations for the surge. Here are some possibilities. © Callaghan O'Hare for The New York TimesAn autistic boy with his mother at home in Texas. There is no blood test or brain scan to determine who has autism, and with no singular cause, there is no singular culprit behind autism’s rise.