New Study Debunks Paracetamol Autism Link After Trump Claims

Gold-Standard Research Contradicts Presidential Warning

A comprehensive new study has found no evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities in children, directly contradicting claims made by President Donald Trump and his administration. The review, published Friday in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health, found no link between acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol, also known as paracetamol — taken during pregnancy and autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or intellectual disabilities .

The research comes after Trump warned in September that acetaminophen use in pregnancy was "associated with a very increased risk of autism" and advised pregnant women, "Don't take Tylenol" . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration initiated the process for a label change for acetaminophen to reflect evidence suggesting that the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children .

However, The Lancet referred to the new paper as a "gold-standard evidence review" , with four researchers who weren't involved in the new paper praising its rigor .

Rigorous Methods Reveal Safety

The international team of researchers analyzed 43 studies out of thousands that met strict quality criteria. They excluded research that relied on self-reporting and instead relied only on studies that used medical records or questionnaires administered or reviewed by a health care provider .

Most significantly, the study focused on sibling-comparison studies, which look at siblings born to the same mother when one pregnancy involved taking acetaminophen and another did not. Because siblings share genetics and family environment, this design helps separate the effects of the drug from family background . There were only three studies of this type, but they were large, covering more than 260,000 children assessed for autism, and around 335,000 and 405,000 for ADHD and intellectual disabilities respectively .

In sibling-comparison analyses, exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy was not associated with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD or any other intellectual disability. This conclusion held up even in studies with more than five years of follow-up .

Medical Community Responds

Study lead author Dr. Asma Khalil, professor of obstetrics and maternal fetal medicine at St. George's Hospital in London, told ABC News: "The clearest takeaway is that the best-quality evidence does not support a causal link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children. Pregnant women should feel reassured that paracetamol remains the recommended first-line option for pain or fever in pregnancy when used as directed" .

The findings address a critical medical need. Paracetamol/Tylenol is the only pain reliever considered safe for pregnant women, and doctors already advise them to use the smallest amount for the shortest time to control pain and fever during pregnancy . Untreated, these conditions can be risky for both pregnant women and their babies .

Previous studies suggesting a link were vulnerable to confounding factors. For example, a pregnant woman might take Tylenol for fevers, and fever during pregnancy may raise the risk for autism. Research can also be affected by "recall bias," such as when the mother of an autistic child doesn't accurately remember how much of the drug she used during pregnancy after the fact .

Global Health Implications

Authorities from Australia to Europe moved swiftly to respond to the U.S. announcement and affirm the safety of the drug during pregnancy . Health Secretary Wes Streeting told ITV: "I would just say to people watching, don't pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine" .

The stakes extend beyond individual pregnancies. The painkiller acetaminophen, or paracetamol, is one of the most widely taken drugs during pregnancy, used by roughly half of all pregnant people worldwide . Researchers warn that linking medication use during pregnancy to autism could have negative effects on parents: "We risk placing blame on mothers and causing more stress, self-blame and stigma, despite having no evidence to support such claims" .

This latest research provides clarity for millions of pregnant women worldwide who rely on paracetamol for essential pain and fever relief. As the medical community continues to emphasize evidence-based guidance, the study offers reassurance that when used as directed, this common medication poses no increased risk to developing children's neurological health.