Need to know
Donald Trump’s bizarre claim that paracetamol taken by pregnant women causes autism has been completely debunked in a scientific review of around a million kids
What you need to know about landmark scientific review
- Scientists analysed 43 of the highest quality studies and conclude that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability among offspring.
- It comes after US President Donald Trump shocked the global medical community by announcing in a press conference last September that he had “found the answer to autism”. Doctors there were advised not to prescribe the painkiller, branded as Tylenol in the US, to pregnant women.
- Trump and his Health Secretary – the notorious antivaxxer Robert F Kennedy Jr – pointed to data showing pregnant women who had taken paracetamol were slightly more likely to go on to have a child diagnosed with autism.
- But scientists had long been convinced that the autism was not caused by the painkiller, instead women predisposed to have a child with the condition were also more likely to need pain relief. The new “gold standard” research, published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal, appears to prove that theory.
- A team led by City St George’s, University of London, analysed studies involving just over one million children assessed for autism, ADHD and intellectual disability. Crucially, they looked at a significant number of cases of siblings where paracetamol had been taken by the same mum during one pregnancy but not the other.
- Study lead Professor Asma Khalil said: “Our findings suggest that previously reported links are likely to be explained by genetic predisposition or other maternal factors such as fever or underlying pain, rather than a direct effect of the paracetamol itself. The message is clear – paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided.”
- Dr Steven Kapp, psychologist at the University of Portsmouth, commented: “Parents of disabled children might be more likely to take paracetamol because of pains related to parenting stress or their own chronic conditions – which neurodivergent parents are more likely to have.”
- UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This major review can yet again, reassure mothers-to-be everywhere that there is no evidence whatsoever to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism, ADHD or disabilities in their children. Our country’s leading scientists and the NHS are clear that paracetamol is safe to take when pregnant and in pain or suffering a fever.”
- The widely held view of experts is that there is no single cause of autism which is thought to be the result of a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors. It is not a disease but those with the neurological condition have brains that work differently. Autistic people can have any level of intelligence.
- Mel Merritt, policy head at the National Autistic Society, said: “This adds to the vast amount of research that shows taking paracetamol in pregnancy does not cause autism. Sadly, this research won’t get a fraction of the attention that false claims do. But the truth matters.”
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