On Monday, President Trump is expected to announce that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism, according to sources who spoke with The Post.
The administration plans to officially advise expectant mothers to avoid the over-the-counter pain reliever unless they are experiencing high fevers, as per insiders familiar with the forthcoming announcement.
Additionally, officials are set to discuss initiatives aimed at investigating the use of leucovorin—a medication recognized for treating cancer and anemia—potentially as a treatment for autism, the sources indicated.
Leucovorin, a derivative of vitamin B9 or folinic acid, is prescribed at high doses. Research suggests that children with insufficient cerebral folate levels may experience neurodevelopmental disorders. However, medical professionals emphasize that there is no single solution to autism. “If you’re going to the doctor looking for a pill for autism, it doesn’t exist,” stated Dr. Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist exploring leucovorin as a potential treatment, in an interview with The Post earlier this year. “Nonetheless, leucovorin has shown benefits for many children.”
Dr. Robert Melillo, a developmental-behavioral functional neurologist, also highlighted to The Post, “It doesn’t tackle the underlying cause of autism or the processes occurring within the brain. Every few years, there’s a new obsession that people latch onto, but there is no single magic bullet.”
Trump has been hinting at a major announcement related to the neurological condition for several days, stating, “I believe we have discovered an answer to autism,” during a speech at the funeral of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk on Sunday. “I anticipate this will be one of the most significant news conferences I will ever hold, and I am eagerly looking forward to it.”
Statistics indicate that in 2022, autism affected approximately one in 31 children aged eight in the United States, as reported by the latest CDC data. This represents a significant rise from the year 2000, when around one in 150 children were diagnosed with this developmental disorder.
This announcement will mark the first official connection made by the US government between acetaminophen and autism. Tylenol, the brand name for acetaminophen, has been a widely used analgesic since it became available over-the-counter in the early 1960s. The specific research underpinning this announcement has not yet been disclosed.
Recent research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggested last month that prenatal exposure to this pain relief medication might heighten the likelihood of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and ADHD in offspring.
“Our findings indicate that studies of higher quality are more prone to discover a link between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and heightened risks for autism and ADHD,” remarked Dr. Didier Prada, one of the researchers involved in the study.
Although the study didn’t establish a direct causative link between acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders, the implications of even a slight increase in risk could have considerable public health consequences.
Secretary Kennedy has consistently pledged to emphasize autism and last month hinted at a forthcoming report addressing the condition. “We are employing gold-standard science to uncover the reasons behind America’s unprecedented surges in autism rates,” a spokesperson for Health and Human Services stated.
Speculation has been building for weeks regarding Kennedy’s goal of linking the recent surge in autism rates to Tylenol, which has led some medical professionals to express skepticism regarding this connection.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has asserted that Tylenol can be safely used during pregnancy when taken appropriately.
“Acetaminophen continues to be a safe and reliable option for managing pain during pregnancy. Despite recent unfounded assertions, there is no definitive evidence linking moderate use to prenatal development concerns,” the organization declared.
“ACOG’s guidelines remain consistent: when pain relief is necessary during pregnancy, acetaminophen should be used judiciously and after consulting with a healthcare provider,” they advised.
Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG’s chief of clinical practice, emphasized that no substantial evidence demonstrates a direct connection between the prudent use of Tylenol and fetal developmental issues.
“Neurodevelopmental disorders are multifaceted and challenging to attribute to a single cause. Expectant patients should not shun the many advantages of acetaminophen, which is both safe and one of the limited options available for pain management,” he stated in a report by CNN.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that pregnant individuals avoid various common pain relievers, especially after 20 weeks, due to concerns that they may result in diminished amniotic fluid levels.
Nonetheless, the usage of Tylenol remains prevalent during pregnancy in the U.S., previously positioned as one of the few pain relief methods considered safe for pregnant women.
