The Nerd Stash
New York Doctor Denies Tie Between Tylenol and Autism Ahead of Trump Announceme…
A doctor in New York went to CBS Morning to push against the narrative by the Trump administration that Tylenol causes autism.
3k
157k
11k
2M
Expert Debunks Tylenol-Autism Link Amid Presidential Announcement
Washington D.C. - Amid growing public discourse, President Trump announced on Sunday at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service that an upcoming announcement would address the topic of autism. Reports from The Washington Post suggest this announcement is expected to link pregnant women’s use of acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, to an increased risk of autism. However, Tylenol's manufacturer has refuted these claims. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder provided expert commentary on the matter, emphasizing that "the best evidence does not show an association between Tylenol and autism." She referenced a recent comprehensive study from Sweden that analyzed 2.5 million children, utilizing sibling comparisons to control for genetic and other factors. This study found no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities in children whose mothers used Tylenol during pregnancy. Dr. Gounder expressed concern regarding the potential "unintended side effects" of such announcements. She highlighted the danger of pregnant women switching to alternative medications like aspirin or ibuprofen, which can be harmful, particularly in the third trimester, leading to kidney or cardiac issues in the baby. She also underscored the importance of treating high fevers during pregnancy, as untreated fevers themselves can cause neurodevelopmental problems. "Tylenol has been the first line for pregnant women for a long time, that's really the safest thing we have," Dr. Gounder stated. The discussion also touched upon a lesser-known drug, Leucovorin, being touted as a potential autism treatment. Dr. Gounder clarified that Leucovorin addresses a specific defect in folate transport into the brain, which is not present in all children with autism. She noted that for those with this specific defect, Leucovorin has shown promise in improving speech. Dr. Gounder cautioned against a pattern of "the same people who recycle the same playbook" in discussions linking various factors like MMR vaccines, thimerosal, and aluminum to autism, urging the public to consider who is presenting the information and data.
