A new survey from the CDC confirms what many of us already know: autism is a huge and growing problem. Highlights of the survey findings indicate that between one in 175 and one in 181 children are diagnosed on the autism spectrum; boys are three times more likely to be autistic than are girls; and Hispanics -- for reasons unknown -- seem to be less likely than other groups to be autistic.

While all of this is useful information, none of it points to solid information about a cause or a cure. Dr. Jose Cordero, director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has this to say to reporters with Reuters: "If children have autism, parents want to know what caused it and how they can lower this risk if they have other children. We share their frustration."