Health experts dispute claim that Amish are immune to autism; Tylenol link under scrutiny

A Monday press briefing featuring President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. amplified a long-standing claim that certain communities, including the Amish, are immune to autism or experience few diagnoses because they shun vaccines and modern medicines. They also spotlighted a possible role for acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, in the development of autism. Health officials and researchers immediately emphasized that there is no evidence any population is immune to autism, which is understood to arise from a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences that can vary by individual.

Autism diagnoses have risen in the United States over the past two decades, a trend many clinicians attribute to greater awareness, earlier screening, and reduced stigma rather than to vaccines or common medications. While Amish communities — known for limited use of routine childhood vaccines — do report autism cases, researchers say the rate of documented diagnoses in these communities is lower than in the general population. Experts caution that lower reporting in cloistered or self-reliant communities can reflect factors such as limited access to medical screening, differences in how behaviors are described to clinicians, or cultural beliefs about seeking formal diagnoses, rather than true immunity.

Among the most cited efforts to quantify autism in Amish communities was a 2010 study conducted in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Researchers screened nearly 1,900 children and confirmed autism diagnoses in several, calculating a preliminary rate of about 1 in 271 Amish children. The study also found that some standard diagnostic interviews did not translate cleanly in Amish households, suggesting that caregivers might describe or interpret behaviors differently within the community. While the finding demonstrates that autism is present in the Amish population, it does not support the idea that the community is inherently protected from the condition.

Experts from autism clinics and clinical psychology note that geographic isolation and cultural factors can suppress the visibility of autism in certain communities. Quatiba David, chief clinical officer at ABA Centers, which runs autism care clinics serving about 1,000 children, said that communities that are geographically and technologically isolated may lack access to mainstream screening tools and thus be less likely to pursue a formal diagnosis. He added that practitioners should be mindful of how cultural context shapes recognition of developmental differences.

Independent scientists and pediatricians stress that there is no definitive cause of autism and that the condition is not linked to vaccines. The prevailing scientific view is that autism results from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, with no single environmental trigger identified as causal across populations. The broader consensus is that vaccines do not cause autism; the history of concerns includes a now-retracted study published in The Lancet that prompted widespread debate, but subsequent research and reviews have found no credible evidence of a causal relationship between vaccines and autism. While vaccination rates are lower in some Amish communities, many Amish children still receive some vaccines, and the presence of autism has been documented in this population despite these lower immunization levels.

On the Tylenol issue, Trump and Kennedy asserted a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. Scientists have studied this question for years, but the overall body of evidence remains inconclusive and has not established a clear causal relationship. Health experts caution that managing fever during pregnancy carries its own risks, and treatment decisions should be guided by medical advice. Some advocates say that avoiding acetaminophen without solid evidence could carry its own risks, particularly if maternal fever is left untreated. Others emphasize that the potential benefits of fever management and the avoidance of unknown risks must be weighed carefully as research continues. In the meantime, many obstetric and pediatric health professionals say that medical guidance should rest on peer-reviewed studies and current clinical guidelines rather than speculative connections.

Beyond vaccines and the Tylenol discussion, researchers reiterate that autism is a multifactorial condition with a substantial genetic component. The rise in documented diagnoses over time is widely attributed to improved screening tools, better awareness among parents and clinicians, and reduced stigma, rather than to postulated changes in exposure to vaccines or medications. There is no evidence that any single community is immune to autism, and no population should be treated as inherently protected from the condition. As researchers pursue clearer answers about risk factors and early detection, health officials emphasize relying on rigorous science and clinically proven guidance to support families.