President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are anticipated to make remarks on a purported hyperlink between Tylenol and autism, and suggest a most cancers drug as an answer.
: [POST-BROADCAST CORRECTION Sept. 23, 2025: A previous version of this story misstated the number of children diagnosed with autism as 1 in 3. The correct number is 1 in 31, or about 3%.]
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Throughout a White Home press convention in the present day, President Trump introduced that federal well being officers would discourage pregnant girls from taking the ache drug acetaminophen, which is the energetic ingredient in Tylenol. He mentioned the drug might enhance a baby’s threat of creating autism.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So taking Tylenol isn’t good. All proper, I am going to say it. It is not good. Because of this, they’re strongly recommending that ladies restrict Tylenol use throughout being pregnant except medically essential.
CHANG: Trump additionally mentioned the Meals and Drug Administration would change the label of a most cancers drug to encourage its use as a remedy for autism. Right here to speak about all of that is NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton. Hello, Jon.
JON HAMILTON, BYLINE: Good day.
CHANG: OK, so what was the scene like on the White Home for this announcement?
HAMILTON: Trump, in fact, did many of the speaking, however he was flanked by Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who oversees Medicare and Medicaid. These males largely nodded in settlement. Trump additionally took this actually lengthy detour to speak in regards to the risks of childhood vaccines, which he has additionally advised could cause autism. However finally, he acquired round to saying his newest plan to scale back the charges of autism and that plan includes discouraging use of acetaminophen, whereas encouraging use of a most cancers drug known as folinic acid or leucovorin.
CHANG: OK, let’s speak first about acetaminophen as a result of I believed docs say it is the most secure ache drug to take throughout being pregnant. Is there any scientific proof linking it to autism?
HAMILTON: There isn’t a good proof that it causes autism, however there are some research which have discovered an affiliation – in different phrases, that ladies who reported taking acetaminophen whereas they have been pregnant appeared to be a bit extra prone to have a baby who was later identified with autism. Earlier than the press convention, I spoke with an creator of a type of research, Ann Bauer. She’s an epidemiologist on the College of Massachusetts who thinks pregnant girls ought to be instructed about attainable threat from acetaminophen, however Bauer additionally was anxious that it is likely to be too quickly to have the federal authorities providing steering on its use.
ANN BAUER: I am a bit involved about how this message goes to return out as a result of I feel they could be leaping the gun. I feel these of us within the analysis neighborhood want to see stronger proof.
CHANG: Effectively, what sort of proof would she prefer to see?
HAMILTON: The prevailing proof in individuals is generally within the type of affiliation research, which might’t present trigger and impact. They’re in contrast to a medical trial, which has some members obtain a drug, and others do not. And most scientists have been fairly skeptical about going from an affiliation research to alter in coverage. In addition they say {that a} drug or different environmental trigger could be very unlikely to elucidate a lot a couple of dysfunction that’s so extremely genetic.
JONATHAN SABAT: We all know now that there are 100 or extra autism genes. And I’d say that the latest research of acetaminophen recommend that the genetic components are fairly robust on this case.
HAMILTON: That was Jonathan Sabat, a professor of psychiatry on the College of California San Diego. And Sabat says genetics are by far the strongest threat issue for autism. He additionally says research that attempt to account for these genetic components, like the massive Swedish research that was completed lately, they don’t discover a hyperlink between autism and acetaminophen. Sabat additionally notes that taking acetaminophen throughout being pregnant can imply {that a} girl has well being issues that trigger ache, well being issues that additionally may enhance the chance of autism.
CHANG: And actual fast, Jon, what about this type of vitamin B that they talked about? May it’s helpful as a remedy?
HAMILTON: A scientific case for that’s fairly weak. It is usually prescribed to sufferers present process most cancers chemotherapy. It does assist the physique produce folate, but it surely’s not clear that folate is missing in individuals with autism.
CHANG: That’s NPR’s Jon Hamilton. Thanks a lot, Jon.
HAMILTON: You are welcome.
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