A new BMJ study finds no clear link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism, contradicting Donald Trump’s claims
There is no clear link between pregnant women taking paracetamol and autism in their children, according to the most comprehensive scientific review published on Monday in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Also read: WHO debunks Trump’s claim linking Tylenol to autism
The findings come after U.S. President Donald Trump reignited controversy in September when he claimed that paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy was associated with higher rates of autism.
Trump urged expectant mothers to “tough it out” instead of taking paracetamol — comments that medical experts criticised as dangerous misinformation likely to discourage women from using one of the safest painkillers during pregnancy.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly emphasised that there is no robust evidence linking paracetamol — the main ingredient in Tylenol and Panadol — to autism.
The BMJ “umbrella review,” which examined all available studies on the topic, concluded that “existing evidence does not show a clear link between in utero exposure to paracetamol and autism or ADHD in offspring.”
Previous research suggesting a possible connection was rated “low to critically low” in quality, largely because such studies failed to rule out other factors, such as genetic predisposition or environmental influences.
The new review also noted that past studies could not explain how paracetamol might cause autism, making their conclusions unreliable.
Dimitrios Siassakos, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College London, said the findings confirm what “experts around the globe have been saying.”
Steven Kapp, a researcher at the University of Portsmouth, added:
“Autistic and neurodivergent people are more likely to experience chronic pain and to have neurodivergent children — but paracetamol doesn’t cause neurodivergence.”
Kapp, who is autistic and has ADHD himself, argued that instead of trying to prevent neurodivergence, society should focus on **improving support and quality of life** for neurodivergent individuals.
Trump and his Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine sceptic, have previously made unfounded claims linking autism to vaccines and other medical treatments.
Experts continue to stress that the rise in autism diagnoses is largely due to better awareness and broader diagnostic criteria, not an increase in actual incidence.
Also read: Barack Obama slams Trump over autism claims
The BMJ review called for greater investment in women’s health research, pointing out the historical lack of funding and the need for higher-quality studies to address public health misinformation.
