Breaking News: Recent studies linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism spectrum disorder are causing concern among medical experts, who warn against “cherry-picking facts without good science” and potentially increasing maternal guilt.
New research has sparked debate regarding a possible association between acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism in children. Experts interviewed emphasize the need for caution and further rigorous inquiry, fearing the claims coudl unnecessarily frighten pregnant individuals and undermine trust in healthcare providers.
Dr. Follmer expressed concern that the findings “are going to potentially hurt families,” adding, “Women are going to be scared of taking Tylenol in pregnancy. Certain untreated conditions in pregnancy put you at risk for othre things. Such as, there is a potential association between fever and neural tube disorders like spina bifida.” she cautioned against revisiting the practice of blaming mothers for neurodivergence in their children, stating, “it feels like a step back to the days when we used to blame mothers…This creates a huge amount of guilt.” Dr.Follmer advocates for focusing on support for families and valuing neurodiversity, rather than seeking to “vilify” potential causes. “We need to be focusing more on how to help families and value individuals for their differences.”
dr. Gray advises pregnant individuals and families experiencing confusion or distress over the claims to consult their physicians and seek support. She also recommends the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as a trusted source of information.
The experts also addressed emerging research into leucovorin as a potential autism treatment. While acknowledging initial data showing some positive results-such as language improvements-both doctors stressed the need for more research due to concerns about bias and small sample sizes. Dr. Follmer stated, “I think everyone is interested to see if leucovorin could be helpful, but we all want more research before we jump on board to say this is helpful.”
Dr. Gray highlighted the established importance of prenatal folate for brain and spine development, but noted limited information regarding folate’s role after birth, except in specific, rare conditions.
For interview requests,contact ksamuelson@northwestern.edu.
