The news: Use of acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol—during pregnancy does not increase a child’s risk of autism or intellectual disability, according to a scientific review of 43 studies.
Catch up quick: The Tylenol brand is under scrutiny from the second Trump administration, whose health leaders claim acetaminophen use during pregnancy is driving rising autism rates.
While some studies have linked prenatal Tylenol use to autism or ADHD, experts say the evidence does not establish causation.
Why it matters: Studies linking prenatal acetaminophen use to autism have been criticized for failing to control for genetics, sibling comparisons, and underlying infections or fevers that may raise neurodevelopmental risk independent of the drug.
However, this latest review prioritized studies that accounted for genetic predisposition and environmental factors thought to drive autism, specifically analyzing studies in which mothers used acetaminophen in one pregnancy but not another, per STAT. If sibling comparisons show no increased neurodevelopmental risk, it suggests that the driver is not acetaminophen but rather a factor shared by siblings (e.g., genetics, environment).
Implications for marketers of OTC health products: Acetaminophen is found in more than 600 different prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and the new analysis gives brands and marketers fresh evidence to help ease concerns among pregnant women and their families—many of whom are uncertain whether prenatal Tylenol use raises autism risk in kids, per an October 2025 KFF poll.
Marketers of health products containing acetaminophen should highlight the higher-quality process of this study in their product messaging to consumers while providing clear talking points for OB-GYNs, family doctors, and pediatricians to share with their patients.