Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly set to announce a potential link between the use of Tylenol by pregnant women and the rising rates of autism in children. This claim surfaced in a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, although the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has stated that such assertions are speculative. This announcement follows Kennedy's earlier commitment in April to initiate a comprehensive testing and research endeavor aimed at uncovering the root causes of autism.
In April, Kennedy outlined plans for HHS to release an extensive report on autism by September. However, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, later indicated that the findings from this research could take up to a year to finalize. Kennedy has faced significant backlash from medical professionals for previously claiming that autism is a preventable disease, a stance that many experts have deemed unfounded.
Following the Wall Street Journal's report, an HHS spokesperson commented to CBS News on Friday, emphasizing that the claims made in the article are speculative. The spokesperson stated, “We are using gold-standard science to get to the bottom of America's unprecedented rise in autism rates. Until we release the final report, any claims about its contents are nothing more than speculation.”
In a separate response, Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, whose active ingredient is acetaminophen, reiterated their position. They maintain that they have consistently evaluated the science surrounding acetaminophen and assert that there is no causal link between its use during pregnancy and autism. Kenvue also noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and leading medical organizations endorse the safety of acetaminophen during pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also weighed in, stating that there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the cautious use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and any fetal developmental issues. ACOG emphasized that neurodevelopmental disorders like autism are multifactorial and challenging to attribute to a single cause. They encourage pregnant patients not to shy away from the benefits of acetaminophen, which remains one of the few safe options for pain relief.
Dr. Jon LaPook, CBS News' chief medical correspondent, expressed eagerness to review the forthcoming report from Kennedy, particularly the evidence supporting any claims made. He referenced a significant study that tracked 2.5 million children in Sweden over 25 years, which found no correlation between acetaminophen use and an increased risk of autism.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism rates have risen significantly among children born in the U.S. over the past quarter-century, yet there remains no scientific consensus on the underlying causes. In a recent interview with CBS News, Dr. Christine Ladd-Acosta, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that the roots of autism are intricate and multifaceted.
Dr. Ladd-Acosta highlighted that numerous studies have explored the relationship between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism risk, yielding conflicting results. Some studies indicate no association, while others suggest a positive or negative correlation. She pointed out that it is challenging to determine whether it is the medication influencing autism risk or the underlying conditions that prompt its use.
Furthermore, she emphasized that dosage, duration of use, and the specific ailments for which pregnant women take Tylenol are all critical factors in evaluating potential associations between the medication and autism. While some studies have indicated associations, Dr. Ladd-Acosta stated, “There has been no conclusive evidence I've seen to show that Tylenol itself causes autism definitively.”
