Health officials plan guidance changes amid calls for research into environmental causes of rising autism rates
What’s Proposed
The Trump administration is preparing to issue new health guidance suggesting that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of autism. Simultaneously, officials are expected to highlight leucovorin — a lesser-known drug — as a potential treatment to improve communication in some children with autism.
Who’s Involved & Timeline
The initiative is being led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with inputs from NIH and FDA. A recent review by Harvard and Mount Sinai researchers has been cited among the studies under consideration. Officials are also preparing a broader autism report that will examine multiple hypotheses, though many in the medical community caution that the evidence is far from conclusive.
Reactions & Scientific Concerns
Medical experts warn the proposed link between acetaminophen during pregnancy and autism is speculative. They emphasize that correlation doesn’t equal causation, and that existing studies have limitations. There is also concern among advocacy groups about how these claims may affect expectant mothers’ behavior and public trust in medical advice.
Broader Context & Implications
With autism diagnoses having increased notably over recent years, the move reflects the administration’s wider focus on environmental and lifestyle risk factors. But critics argue that more robust scientific studies are needed before changing public health guidelines. The initiative could have major implications for pregnancy care, prescription drug labeling, and how autism treatments are researched and approved.
