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24. September 2025
Trump Admin Sparks Outrage With Tylenol Autism Link
The recent announcement by President Donald Trump that his administration will study the causes of autism and attribute its potential cause to the common painkiller Tylenol, has sent shockwaves throughout the scientific community. The FDA subsequently announced that the drug would be slapped with a warning label citing a “possible association.”
The discussion around autism has been plagued by misinformation, misinterpretation, and bad science. The long-discredited link between vaccines and autism is just one example of how claims have been made without sufficient evidence. More recently, there have been claims that going gluten-free and avoiding ultra-processed foods can reverse autistic traits. However, these claims are often based on anecdotal evidence or poorly designed studies.
The latest development in this saga comes from the Oval Office itself. In a press conference earlier this week, Trump announced his administration’s new push to study the causes of autism, citing Tylenol as a potential cause. He specifically warned pregnant women against taking the painkiller, even to treat fevers.
David Amaral, professor and director of research at the UC Davis MIND Institute, was among those watching in dismay as Trump launched into his diatribe about Tylenol. Amaral is a leading expert on autism and has spent years researching the condition. He was particularly taken aback by Trump’s warning to pregnant women, which he believes could do more harm than good.
“We heard the president say that women should tough it out,” says Amaral. “I was really taken aback by that, because we do know that prolonged fever, in particular, is a risk factor for autism.” Amaral’s concerns are echoed by other experts, who point out that the relationship between Tylenol and autism is still shrouded in controversy.
One such study, published last month, suggested a possible association between Tylenol use and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, this study has been widely criticized for its methodological flaws. Renee Gardner, an epidemiologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, points out that these studies often reach their conclusions because they don’t sufficiently account for confounding factors – additional variables related to those being studied that might influence the relationship between them.
Gardner highlights that pregnant women needing to take Tylenol are more likely to have pain, fevers, and prenatal infections, which are themselves risk factors for autism. Moreover, given the heritability of autism, many of the genetic variants that make women more likely to have impaired immunity and greater pain perception, and hence use painkillers like acetaminophen, are also linked to autism. The painkiller use, she says, is a red herring.
This understanding is not new to Gardner and her colleagues. Last year, they published what is widely regarded within the scientific field as the most conclusive investigation so far on the subject of Tylenol’s link to autism. Using health records from nearly 2.5 million children in Sweden, they reached a contradictory conclusion to Trump’s: Tylenol has no link to autism.
Another major study of over 200,000 children in Japan, published earlier this month, also found no link between the two. These findings are based on rigorous statistical analysis and should provide a clearer picture of the relationship between Tylenol use and autism.
The potential consequences of Trump’s claims cannot be overstated. Doctors are worried that pregnant women will start using other painkillers with a less well-proven safety profile, which could have adverse effects on both the mother and child. Michael Absoud, a pediatric neurodisability consultant and researcher in pediatric neurosciences at King’s College London, fears that this could lead to more harm than good.
Gardner is equally concerned that Trump’s claims will lead to self-blaming among parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions. She notes that this is reminiscent of the 1950s and ’60s, when autism was wrongly attributed to emotionally cold “refrigerator mothers.” This kind of thinking has already led to a backlash against families who are trying to help their children.
“It’s making parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions feel responsible,” she says. “It harks back to the early dark days of psychiatry.” The impact on families cannot be overstated, and Gardner’s words highlight just how far-reaching these consequences could be.
The latest findings from Gardner and her colleagues provide a reassuring glimpse into the state of our understanding about autism. However, as we navigate these complex issues, let’s keep in mind that science is not always linear or straightforward. It takes time, patience, and dedication to unravel the mysteries surrounding this condition. As we strive for greater understanding, let’s prioritize compassion, empathy, and a commitment to evidence-based research.
In the end, it’s up to us to ensure that our actions as researchers and policymakers are guided by the best available science. By prioritizing rigor, transparency, and open-mindedness, we can work towards creating a brighter future for children with autism and their families.