Ray Dorsey is a physician and researcher working in the field of neurology. His research primarily focuses on Parkinson's disease, covering primary prevention strategies, environmental risk factors, and patient-centered care models. Additionally, his work explores the application of digital health technologies, wearable sensors, and remote AI-based screening tools for neurodegenerative conditions.
The EPA issued rules in 2024 calling for a 10-year phase-out of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.
"The EPA banned their use in 2024, calling for a 10-year phase-out for both of them." (said at 0:10:53)
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed risk management rules for trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) to eliminate unreasonable risks to human health. While the EPA's proposed and finalized rules establish bans with transition timelines reaching up to 10 years for certain specialized, industrial, or critical uses (such as aerospace and defense applications), many consumer and commercial uses are phased out on much shorter timelines (ranging from several months to a few years) rather than an across-the-board 10-year period.
One in 31 eight-year-old children in the United States is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
"And we have the audacity to ask why 1 in 31 eight-year-old children have autism." (said at 0:24:38)
The speaker cites a prevalence of 1 in 31 eight-year-old children. According to the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network surveillance data for 8-year-old children (2020 surveillance year), the estimated prevalence was 1 in 36 (approximately 2.8% or 27.6 per 1,000). However, parent-reported survey estimates from the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) estimated overall pediatric prevalence at 3.2% (approximately 1 in 31). The claim is close to published national estimates but slightly conflates surveillance figures or specific datasets.
1 in 31 American children have autism.
"1 in 31 American children have autism." (said at 1:02:25)
Estimates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence in U.S. children vary slightly depending on the surveillance system and age cohort evaluated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network surveillance for 2020 (published in 2023), the overall estimated prevalence among 8-year-old children was 27.6 per 1,000, or approximately 1 in 36 children (with site-specific rates varying, such as California reporting higher rates). Other national parent-report surveys (such as the National Survey of Children's Health and National Health Interview Survey) have reported national prevalence estimates ranging between 1 in 30 and 1 in 36 children (~2.8% to 3.2%). Therefore, '1 in 31' aligns closely with the range of recent U.S. prevalence estimates, though the widely cited benchmark from the CDC ADDM network is 1 in 36.
Rates of ALS and brain cancer are increasing.
"There are reasons why ALS and brain cancer are increasing." (said at 1:02:29)
Global epidemiological analyses (including the Global Burden of Disease study) show that absolute case numbers and prevalence rates of motor neuron diseases/ALS and brain and central nervous system cancers have increased over recent decades. For brain/CNS cancer, global incident cases more than doubled (+106.5%) between 1990 and 2021, with modest increases in global age-standardized incidence rates, though trends in specific countries like the US show stable overall age-standardized incidence alongside increases among older age groups (>70 years). For motor neuron diseases, US age-standardized prevalence and mortality rates increased between 1990 and 2021. However, demographic decomposition analyses show that the primary drivers of these rising case burdens are population aging, demographic growth, and improved neuroimaging and diagnostic detection rather than purely unexplained or new external risk factors.
- supports: The Burden of Motor Neuron Diseases in the United States, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis… (Muscle & nerve 2025) · cited 3x in the literature
"In 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate of MNDs in the US was 8.82 (95% uncertainty interval, 7.96-9.74) per 100,000, a 12.89% (3.10-23.66) increase from 1990 (7.82 per 100,000). Age-standardized MND-related DALY and mortality rates in 2021 were 41.36 (39.47-42.94) and 1.49 (1.38-1.56) per 100,000, respectively, increases of 4.14% (0.41%-7.68%) and 18.34% (13.86%-22.70%) compared to 1990." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - context: Burden of Central Nervous System Cancer in the United States, 1990-2021. (JAMA neurology 2026) · cited 1x in the literature
"Despite no significant change observed in the overall incidence between 1990 and 2021, DALY and mortality rates decreased by 15.77% (95% UI, -17.75% to -13.68%) and 8.41% (95% UI, -11.09% to -6.22%), respectively... Age-specific estimates showed a bimodal distribution: the youngest group (<5 years) showed a significant decrease in incidence rate (-34.42% to -11.56%), whereas older age groups (>70 years) experienced increasing trends." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - supports: Global, regional, and national burden of brain and other central nervous system cancers fr… (International journal of surgery (London, England) 2026) · cited 2x in the literature
"From 1990 to 2021, global cases of CNS cancers have increased in prevalence and incidence by 124.50% and 106.53%, respectively, with corresponding increases in related age-standardized rates (ASRs)... Decomposition analysis showed the major contributory roles of population growth and aging on the incidence, mortality, and DALYs" (abstract, results)
pubmedfull study (doi)
The Lancet Commission reported that 45% of Alzheimer's disease is potentially preventable.
"the Lancet Commission says that 45% of Alzheimer's disease is potentially preventable" (said at 1:03:08)
The 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia prevention, intervention, and care estimated that 45% of all-cause dementia cases worldwide are potentially preventable by modifying 14 life-course risk factors (including low education, hearing loss, LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, excessive alcohol, social isolation, air pollution, and vision loss). The speaker referred specifically to 'Alzheimer's disease', whereas the Commission's population attributable fraction model evaluated dementia generally.