Health Report Why does Trump think paracetamol causes autism?
Sep 26, 2025
Join Professor Andrew Whitehouse, an esteemed autism researcher, and Professor Anne Tiedemann, expert in physical activity and health, as they dive into some hot topics. They unravel Trump's controversial claims linking paracetamol to autism, scrutinizing the evidence and its implications. Andrew discusses the rise in autism diagnoses and the influence of genetics versus environment. Meanwhile, Anne shares surprising findings from a yoga trial for fall prevention in older adults, revealing that increased confidence may lead to more falls. Tune in for insightful debunking and expert advice!
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Autism Is Broad And Strongly Genetic
- Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic basis and varied behavioural manifestations across a spectrum.
- Diagnostic criteria broadened over decades, increasing diagnoses without proving a true incidence epidemic.
Rise In Diagnoses Reflects Redefined Boundaries
- The apparent rise in autism reflects expanded diagnostic boundaries and recognition, not clear evidence of a new biological epidemic.
- Reclassification has allowed children previously undiagnosed to receive support under the autism spectrum label.
Twin Studies Show High Heritability
- Twin studies show autism is highly heritable: identical twins have ~60–80% concordance versus 5–20% for fraternal twins.
- This high concordance points to strong genetic drivers for autism risk.