President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s (RFK) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed today (22nd September 2025) a link between the the over-the-counter painkiller paracetamol taken during pregnancy, to the onset of autism – and to recommend that it only be used to tackle high fevers.
This is the news confernce where this link was proposed: https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/autism-announcement-tylenol-trump-speech-latest-news-7mmvjcn8z
The HHS also ‘believes’ that a low level of folate, a vitamin essential for the development of a baby’s brain and spine, is a contributing factor to autism; and recommend the anaemia drug leucovorin (or folinic acid, a folic acid analogue), be used to help prevent autism.
In the UK folic acid is routinely prescribed in pregnancy anyway; as it prevents major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine, such as spina bifida and anencephaly (called neural tube defects, NTDs) – by ensuring the neural tube develops properly.
Efforts to deal with autism, are a top priority for President Donald Trump, who has long voiced concerns about rising U.S. autism rates and tasked his deputies this year with finding answers.
The initiative involves Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya and other senior officials.
MyHSN is sceptical about this possible link. Perhaps it needs further investigation.
But, it is important that all avenues to reduce autism numbers are explored.
