Trump to announce potential link between prenatal paracetamol exposure and autism, aides say
Federal review considers associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental conditions, though experts caution that causation has not been proven.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expected to announce today a link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism, according to people briefed on the matter. The anticipated statement follows a federal review into rising autism rates, an initiative led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the United States and sold under brand names such as Tylenol and Panadol, is widely used by pregnant women to treat pain, headaches and fever. The NHS currently designates it as the first-choice painkiller for expectant mothers but cautions that it should be used only for short periods and at the lowest effective dose. About half of pregnant women in the UK take paracetamol, while US usage is around 65 percent. Dozens of studies have linked it to higher rates of autism and ADHD. New reports indicate the administration plans to formally acknowledge the association after the federal review, though officials stress that the link is not proven to be causal.
US researchers from Mount Sinai and Harvard's School of Public Health analyzed more than 100,000 people across 46 studies, examining when paracetamol was taken during pregnancy and linking it with mothers’ medical records. Writing in Environmental Health, the researchers concluded there is “strong evidence of a likely relationship between prenatal acetaminophen use and increased risk of autism and ADHD in children.” They cautioned that the findings do not prove causation but emphasize a consistent association that warrants further study. One co-author, Dr. Diddier Prada, said: “Our findings show that higher-quality studies are more likely to show a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD.” He added: “Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications.” He also stressed that pregnant women should not stop taking medication without consulting their doctors, noting that untreated pain or fever can also harm the baby.
Harvard researchers issued warnings in August that pregnant women should use paracetamol only under medical guidance and consider non-drug options when possible.
A 2021 European study analyzing health data from more than 70,000 children in six countries, including the UK, found that 56 percent of mothers who had children on the autism spectrum or with ADHD took paracetamol during pregnancy. Experts have long urged caution, given that paracetamol can enter a baby’s system and has been linked in some research to poorer cognitive performance and behavioral outcomes. Still, many scientists stress that the evidence is not uniform. Professor Andrew Whitehouse of The Kids Research Institute Australia said the findings are inconsistent and that autism is a complex condition influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. “Some studies have reported small associations, but these findings are not consistent and do not prove that acetaminophen directly causes autism,” he said. The conditions are multifactorial, and any potential risk must be weighed against the dangers of high fever or severe pain during pregnancy.
Autism remains a public health topic with rising diagnoses in the United States. Estimates suggest roughly 2.3 million children and seven million adults have autism spectrum disorder in the U.S., with diagnoses climbing from about 1 in 150 children in 2000 to about 1 in 31 in 2020. A 2024 study of health records across the United States showed a substantial increase in autism diagnoses over an 11-year span, reflecting broader screening, shifting criteria and awareness, among other factors. The debate continues, as researchers search for biological and environmental contributors to neurodevelopmental outcomes.
In the United Kingdom, attention has also focused on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. NHS figures show more than 230,000 people in England are prescribed ADHD medication, with prescriptions rising by about a fifth last year—the sharpest annual increase since records began in 2015. The rise has drawn scrutiny over diagnosis practices and treatment approaches, as adults increasingly represent a larger share of those receiving care.
The science around prenatal acetaminophen exposure remains unsettled. Health officials say it is important to discuss any concerns with a clinician, especially if fever or pain is persistent, and to consider the safest approach for both mother and baby. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.