09/23/2025
Autism and Tylenol are in the news. Okay, I'll bite.
After spending a bit of time reviewing the research that the white house pointed to and doing some more digging, here are my takeaways:
The first study that the White House cites actually does not mention autism even once. It's a study looking at a possible correlation between maternal Tylenol use and ADHD.
Of the other two studies cited (because the rest were just dressed up press releases and other citings of these two studies) I do see a small odds ratio of association of autism and maternal Tylenol use in some of the studies that the White House cited. The highest odds ratio in these studies was cited at somewhere around 1-3 (1-3 times more likely to have an autistic child if you take Tylenol in pregnancy, the 3 times more likely being for the very highest Tylenol users).
But are these odds ratios THE biggest factor to explain autism? Not even close. The odds ratio between autistic individuals and having an autistic parent is anywhere from 7 to 16.
So, MUCH more than Tylenol use, Autism seems to be genetic predominantly.
There is also a real risk from neural tube defects from NOT taking Tylenol when a pregnant mother has a fever. Actually, one study taking from the same cohort as one of the White House cited studies used (the Boston Birth Cohort) stated that prenatal exposure to FEVER was the association for autism. So, that would suggest that one should take Tylenol at recommended doses to bring down fever? Plus the studies the White House cited make statements that due to this, pregnant individuals should keep in mind that not treating pain and fever can also harm the fetus, so they say to use the smallest effective dose, and don't suggest taking none.
The White House also did not cite several large, robust and well designed studies that suggested that there were NO correlations between Tylenol use in pregnancy and birthing autistic children.
See how confusing it all is? We just can't suggest that Tylenol is the number one factor with autism.
The rising rates of autism that are reported are also correlates. In my experience as a clinician, due to a huge surge of autistic advocacy defining autism as a difference and not a disease all over the media, we professionals and laypeople alike are getting better at noticing autism than we used to be, and we seek out diagnoses more often.
Finally, all those that took any statistics class ever knows that "correlation does not prove causation." A good example of this is that everyone who has visited the moon has eaten chicken, but that does not mean that because we eat chicken, we will go to the moon. There could be many different explanations of the correlation between Tylenol and autism. One big one that comes to mind for me: autistic individuals (even undiagnosed pregnant autistic people) can be more sensitive to pain due to their sensory differences, so they might take more Tylenol while pregnant.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, autistic voices are speaking loudly all over the media, if you take the time to care to listen, that autism should NOT be "cured" - they see neurodiversity is important, that autistic individuals offer value, and the world would be much worse off without their existence. Think about people who changed the world. Then look at autistic characteristics. See if there is a correlation. I think you'll see a MUCH higher odds ratio there than with maternal Tylenol use.
In fact, I find it very hard indeed to find historical figures who really changed the world who do NOT have autistic characteristics. Autism is often defined as "experiencing the world differently." People who change the world first MUST experience the world differently than everyone else. Then and only then can they figure out how to DO things differently to change it and move us forward.
(References for my claims available upon request.)
