Autism and Tylenol: Trump’s HHS claims link if acetaminophen taken during pregnancy

The Trump administration on Monday released a report claiming autism is linked to the use of the painkiller Tylenol, or acetaminophen, during pregnancy.

The White House event was closely watched by scientists and advocates who say there is no single cause for the disorder. 

Trump autism announcement

The backstory:

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised earlier this year to determine the cause of autism by September.

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What they're saying:

"So I've been waiting for this meeting for 20 years. And it's not that everything's 100% understood or known, but I think we've made a lot of strides. I wish it was done a long time ago," Trump began. 

"Taking Tylenol is not good. All right. I'll say it. It's not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary," he continued.

"The FDA is responding to clinical and laboratory studies that suggest a potential association between infant use during pregnancy and adverse developmental outcomes, including later diagnosis for ADHD and autism," Kennedy said.  

What is autism? 

Big picture view:

Autism isn’t a disease. It’s a complex developmental condition better known as autism spectrum disorder that affects different people in different ways.

It can include delays in language, learning or social and emotional skills. For some people, profound autism means being nonverbal and having intellectual disabilities, but the vast majority of people with autism experience far milder effects.

RFK Jr., HHS researching autism

The backstory:

President Trump and Kennedy have both expressed concerns about rising autism diagnoses rates. Earlier this year, Kennedy announced the Health and Human Services Department would undertake a "massive testing and research effort" to determine the cause of autism.

Kennedy is a longtime vaccine critic who has pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood shots cause the developmental disability. Trump has also suggested that vaccines could be to blame for autism rates, and repeated certain claims Monday. 

The other side:

Scientific consensus stands that childhood vaccines don’t cause autism. Leading autism advocacy groups, including Autism Speaks, agree.

Additionally, part of the increase of rising autism rates can be explained due to increased awareness and a change in how the disability is diagnosed.

Dig deeper:

The National Institutes of Health, which already spends more than $300 million yearly researching autism, lists some possible risk factors such as prenatal exposure to pesticides or air pollution, extreme prematurity or low birth weight, certain maternal health problems or parents conceiving at an older age.

Tylenol and autism

The backstory:

Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Kennedy's HHS is expected to release a report this month on potential causes of autism, which was likely to show Tylenol taken during pregnancy and low levels of the vitamin folate.

Big picture view:

Tylenol is a popular over-the-counter drug used for purposes such as pain relief, fever reduction and addressing symptoms of illnesses ranging from headaches and cold or flu symptoms to allergies. The active ingredient in Tylenol is acetaminophen, which is used in similar over-the-counter drugs. The medical profession has said that products containing acetaminophen are safe for women to take when pregnant. 

The other side:

Kenvue, the parent of Tylenol-maker McNeil Consumer Healthcare, reportedly released a statement to disagree with the suggestion, saying, "We have continuously evaluated the science and continue to believe there is no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism."

By the numbers:

Shares in Kenvue plunged following The Wall Street Journal’s report – declining more than 14% in that day’s afternoon trading, FOX Business reported.