**Trump Expected to Link Tylenol Use During Pregnancy to Autism in Upcoming Announcement**
US President Donald Trump is anticipated to make a Monday afternoon announcement claiming a connection between the use of the popular over-the-counter pain medication Tylenol (known as paracetamol outside the United States) during pregnancy and the development of autism. This assertion is highly disputed by many medical professionals.
According to researchers, there is no firm evidence supporting a link between Tylenol use and autism. Despite this, shares of Tylenol’s manufacturer, consumer health company Kenvue, dropped 5.5 percent during trading on Monday and have fallen 17 percent throughout September amid reports that the administration would associate the drug with autism.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, President Trump stated that he believes Tylenol use is “a very big factor” in the rise of autism diagnoses. He also suggested that vaccines could be linked to the condition. “There’s obviously something artificial that’s really wrong, and we think we know what that is,” he said.
**Health Officials and Autism Research**
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long promoted controversial views about vaccine safety without scientific backing, has pledged to uncover the cause of autism. He has also suggested that autism may be related to environmental toxins.
Despite decades of research, no definitive cause of autism has been established. Many scientists agree that genetics, potentially combined with environmental factors, play a significant role. Autism is a neurological and developmental condition characterized by differences in brain signaling that affect behavior, communication, interaction, and learning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Tylenol is produced by Kenvue, a consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023. Generic versions of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, are also widely available. In response to the claims, Kenvue released a statement:
> “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.”
**Autism Diagnosis Trends and Scientific Perspectives**
Autism diagnoses in the United States have risen significantly since 2000, causing public concern. By 2020, the autism prevalence among 8-year-olds was 1 in 36 (2.77 percent), up from 2.27 percent in 2018 and 0.66 percent in 2000, according to the CDC.
Experts, including the CDC, largely attribute the increase in autism rates to expanded screening efforts and broader diagnostic criteria, which have led to more diagnoses of individuals with milder or subtler symptoms.
Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, commented in April on Kennedy’s previous claims about environmental causes of autism, calling them false. She emphasized that “an overwhelming amount of evidence” points toward genetic causes while acknowledging ongoing research into how environmental factors might influence genetic predispositions.
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to award $50 million in grants to further study autism’s causes.
**Controversies Surrounding Vaccine Safety and Autism**
Kennedy has enlisted vaccine skeptic David Geier to review long-standing vaccine safety data from the CDC. Geier has a controversial history; he was fined by Maryland for practicing medicine without a license and prescribing potentially harmful treatments to autistic children.
Recent reports by The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post indicate that the Trump administration intends to associate Tylenol use with autism and may promote leucovorin, a form of folic acid, as a pain treatment alternative.
**Anti-Vaccine Groups Promote Tylenol Link**
Children’s Health Defense (CHD), an anti-vaccine organization formerly led by Kennedy, has been vocal about the alleged link between Tylenol and autism. Brian Hooker, CHD’s chief scientific officer, has stated that he expects Kennedy to focus on Tylenol, vaccines, and vaccine components during upcoming discussions.
Last week, a panel of vaccine advisers appointed by Kennedy met to consider changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. The two-day meeting was marked by confusion. The committee voted to recommend adjustments to the administration of the combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine but postponed voting on hepatitis B shots. The panel also announced plans to form a working group to further examine the children’s vaccine schedule.
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*This article aims to present the latest developments surrounding autism research and related health policy discussions while highlighting differing scientific viewpoints.*
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/update-1-trump-expected-to-link-autism-with-tylenol-a-claim-highly-disputed-1809771.html
