It Could Happen Here Does Tylenol Give Your Baby Autism?
Oct 1, 2025
Dr. Tyler Black, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Dr. Kaveh Hoda, a medical doctor and host, dive into the controversy surrounding Tylenol and its supposed link to autism. They discuss findings from a large Swedish study that debunks the acetaminophen-autism connection and the evolving nature of autism diagnoses. Highlighting the impacts of fear-based messaging on pregnant individuals and autistic communities, they underscore the importance of informed decision-making in medical care during pregnancy, while also addressing potential misinformation in the wake of this debate.
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Large Sibling Study Weakens Causation Claim
- The strongest evidence against acetaminophen causing autism comes from a very large Swedish sibling-controlled cohort.
- Sibling comparisons suggest observed links are likely confounded, not causal.
Narrative Reviews Can Mislead Evidence Weight
- Narrative reviews can bias conclusions by counting small studies equally with massive ones.
- A large, well-controlled study should outweigh many small underpowered studies when inferring causality.
Prevalence Rise Largely Diagnostic, Not New Cause
- Most of the apparent rise in autism prevalence reflects diagnostic changes and better survival, not a sudden new cause.
- Broader criteria and improved survival of premature or medically complex infants increased measured prevalence.