"The FDA subsequently announced that the drug would be slapped with a warning label citing a "possible association." David Amaral, professor and director of research at the UC Davis MIND Institute, was among those watching in dismay as the president launched into a diatribe about Tylenol, repeatedly warning pregnant women not to take it, even to treat fevers. "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. So I worry that this admonition to not take Tylenol is going to do the reverse of what they're hoping." The speculation surrounding Tylenol stems from correlations drawn by some studies that have touted an association between use of the painkiller and neurodevelopmental disorders."
Misinformation has long affected understanding of autism, from false vaccine links to unproven dietary interventions. The U.S. administration announced a study asserting acetaminophen can cause autism and the FDA added a warning about a "possible association." Advising pregnant women to avoid acetaminophen could increase harm from prolonged fever, which is itself a risk factor for autism. The acetaminophen concern arises from correlational studies that often fail to account for confounding factors. Pregnant people who take acetaminophen are more likely to have pain, fevers, and prenatal infections, introducing potential confounders.
Read at WIRED
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