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2 Experts Break Down Trump's Claims About Tylenol & Autism
"Correlation does not equate to causation."
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Medical Expert Clarifies: No Causal Link Between Tylenol in Pregnancy and Autism, Warns Against Misinformation
Expert OB/GYN Addresses Misinformation on Acetaminophen and Autism A prominent Obstetrician-Gynecologist has released a video addressing and refuting claims that acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, causes autism when used during pregnancy. The medical professional, known as KarenTangMD, emphasized the critical distinction between correlation and causation, a concept she illustrated with historical data linking polio outbreaks to ice cream sales. "Correlation does not equal causation," stated KarenTangMD. "Just because two things are associated, it does not mean that one thing caused the other." She explained that both polio rates and ice cream sales increased in summer months due to warm temperatures, which facilitated the spread of the virus, making temperature a "confounding variable." Applying this principle to the acetaminophen-autism debate, the OB/GYN highlighted that autism is also associated with factors like maternal fever or infection, for which acetaminophen is often taken. She referenced a "massive study out of Sweden published in JAMA" that looked at millions of children, including hundreds of thousands exposed to acetaminophen in utero. This study, which adjusted for genetic and environmental factors using sibling-matched pairs, found "no further difference in autism rates," suggesting a genetic component is more likely. KarenTangMD further clarified that "autism isn't a disease; it is a variation in how your brain processes information." She stressed that autistic people have always existed and will continue to exist, indicating it is a complex, multifactorial condition largely influenced by genetics. The doctor also underscored the safety of acetaminophen, stating it "is by far the safest pain-relieving medication and fever-reducing medication in pregnancy." She warned against the dangers of misinformation, noting that telling pregnant individuals not to take acetaminophen could lead them to opt for NSAIDs like ibuprofen, which "actually does pose risk to their fetus."
