A major new scientific review has robustly dismissed claims, recently amplified by former US President Donald Trump, that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children. The research, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health, concludes there is no strong evidence for such a link and warns that avoiding the common painkiller could pose serious risks to both mother and foetus.
The Claims and the Scientific Rebuttal
In September 2025, President Trump and his Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, urged women not to take Tylenol (paracetamol). They repeated several conspiracy theories about autism, with Kennedy having a history of promoting vaccine misinformation. The UK's health secretary, Wes Streeting, swiftly advised the public to ignore Trump's medical pronouncements.
Now, a comprehensive analysis of 43 existing research papers has provided a definitive counter. The review found no convincing proof that paracetamol use in pregnancy increases the risk of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability. A key Swedish study from 2024, which analysed 2.4 million births, found no relationship between prenatal paracetamol exposure and later autism diagnosis.
Understanding the Real Risks and Causes
The study authors suggest that previously observed associations might be explained by other factors. Underlying maternal conditions, such as chronic pain, fever, discomfort, or genetic predisposition, could be the true links, not the paracetamol itself. Researchers emphasised a critical public health warning: shunning paracetamol could expose pregnant women to dangers from untreated pain and fever, including miscarriage, preterm birth, and congenital defects.
Dr Steven Kapp from the University of Portsmouth offered another perspective, noting that parents of disabled children might be more likely to take pain relief due to stress or their own chronic conditions. "Society needs to stop going down rabbit holes of seeking false prevention of developmental disabilities," he stated, advocating for a focus on improving life for neurodivergent people.
Expert Reaction and Closing the Chapter
UK experts have welcomed the "strong and reliable" findings. Professor Grainne McAlonan of King's College London expressed hope that the study would end the unnecessary anxiety caused by the 2025 claims, stressing that expectant mothers should not fear using commonly recommended medicine.
Dr Monique Botha from Durham University summarised the evidence clearly: "When this higher-quality evidence is examined, the findings are clear: there is no evidence that using paracetamol as recommended during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability." The scientific community now aims to draw a line under what it considers a damaging episode of fearmongering.
