Report alleges RFK Jr.'s claims implicate Tylenol as cause of autism; here's the latest information

Reportedly, RFK Jr. Advocates Blaming Tylenol for Autism Cases: Facts Unveiled

In a surprising development, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is considering acetaminophen as a potential root cause of autism spectrum disorder. This assertion comes as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) prepares to release a report that will list acetaminophen use during pregnancy as a risk factor for autism.

The Wall Street Journal first reported HHS's plans over the weekend, but the report does not confirm whether vaccines will also be included in the HHS report.

Acetaminophen, the most widely used over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer in the world, is known to be the most common cause of acute liver failure from drug overdose in the U.S. A study published in JAMA in April 2024 suggests that the association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders is a noncausal association.

Researchers have speculated that acetaminophen can cross the placental barrier and may harm fetal brain development by causing oxidative stress or the disruption of certain key hormones. However, some studies have suggested a possible connection between acetaminophen and autism, while others have not.

Chronic use or excessively high doses of acetaminophen can potentially cause acute liver or kidney damage. Acetaminophen's potential link to autism has been a topic of debate among scientists and researchers. A review published by Mount Sinai researchers last month found that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen could increase the risk of several neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and ADHD.

However, the Coalition of Autism Scientists, a group of over 200 researchers, is not on board with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s claims about the causes of autism. The coalition released a statement on Monday, stating that it is irresponsible and potentially dangerous to claim links between potential exposures and autism when the science is uncertain.

The upcoming HHS report will also implicate low levels of folate (vitamin B9) as a potential cause of autism. The researcher team announced by RFK Jr. in April 2023 to investigate the causes of autism was described as "hundreds of scientists from around the world," but no specific name for the team was given.

It remains to be seen whether the HHS report will offer any real clarity on the complex causes of autism. RFK Jr. has promised to reveal the cause of autism next month, but the scientific community awaits the report with a mix of anticipation and scepticism.