Making Sense of Recent Autism News with Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Medical Officer

A pregnant woman on a laptop computer

In response to recent statements from the White House regarding the correlation between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and autism, Tahoe Forest Health System is reposting with permission the following statement from the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

What do we know about the causes of autism?

Decades of research show that autism has many complex causes. Scientists have found hundreds of different genes that may cause autism. Some things in the environment can also change how genes affect development, but vaccines are safe and effective. There is no one thing that causes autism. Autism is not caused by anything parents did or didn’t do.

About Recent Claims

The best research right now shows that autism is not caused by pregnant women taking Tylenol (also called “acetaminophen”). Experts say that Tylenol is safe when used correctly during pregnancy. Pregnant people should take folate because it is healthy for the unborn baby. Folate may help lower the chance of the unborn baby having autism or other disabilities.

Hi there, I’m Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Medical Officer here at Tahoe Forest Health System. I want to talk about the fact that the White House held a press conference very recently on the subject of Tylenol, or acetaminophen, and pregnancy. What they specifically stated was that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol when they’re pregnant because of a risk of autism.

Tylenol, just so you know, is actually the brand name for acetaminophen. You can buy acetaminophen in the grocery store or the pharmacy; Tylenol is the brand name. There’s been some confusion around this criticism from scientific organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. What those organizations are saying is that there is no link between using Tylenol in pregnant women and autism.

I think some of the confusion comes from a number of studies that have come out fairly recently. One from Mount Sinai reviewed lots of other research that had been done. They determined there could be an association between Tylenol and the development of autism—just an association, though, and no cause identified. A large study was published out of Sweden, which looked at over two million different births, and there was absolutely no positive connection identified between acetaminophen and autism later on.

So, my recommendation, or our recommendation here, is if you have concerns and you are pregnant, please come talk to your doctor about it. Talk to your doctor, but generally speaking, Tylenol is considered to be safe when indicated in pregnancy for things like fever. The only medication that is indicated in pregnancy, unlike other medications like Advil or ibuprofen, is Tylenol. It is the safe alternative.

We’re here if you need us. Ask questions, and thank you.

Right now, there is not enough strong research to know if taking Leucovorin, a form of folate, is safe or helpful for autistic people. Scientists find that the tests for FRAT (folate receptor antibody testing) are not completely accurate. Health insurance may not pay for FRAT testing.

Caution about Claims

Families, health care experts, and scientists want to know more about what causes autism. We must be careful about believing simple answers that are not based on strong research. Autism is a complex condition and needs careful treatments that are supported by science. Making false claims about what causes or helps autism can cause harm.

What You Can Do

Children and adults with autism and other disabilities need support from their communities and families. Autistic people can be happy and healthy if they get the help they need. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about any concerns. Healthcare providers can help you understand new research about ways to support autistic children.

October 2, 2025

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