Smoldering Stump Gazette
News and Commentary
Tr$mpist anti-health cabal strikes again
Every aluminum can in my fridge knows more about medicine than does Donald Tr$mp.
The idea that he has any concept of the influence of medications on pathologies that exist years or decades after treatment is ludicrous, exceeding only the fantasies expoused by RFK Jr. They both reveal their lack of expertise every time they open their mouths.
This acetominophen claim is being touted only to take the light off other spurious, unproven claims this administration has promoted and anti-public-health measures it has imposed.
I have little doubt that my late father-in-law, a confirmed Republican and lifelong physician and public health professional, is spinning in his grave and spitting nails at rapid fire.
When will the US just give these fools the horse laugh they deserve? As John Snow might say, "winter is coming" for them.

—A. R. Clark, Ph.D. Not a physician, but a reader of scientific literature for over 65 years.

BTW: Here is the query and results from a brief AI-assisted web search on the topic. Feel free to replicate the exercise, which is how actual science is done, not by listing to podcasts and watching Faux News.

Q: Act as a medical conultant. Review medical literature on co-effects of acetiominophen. Is there any evidence that it causes autism? Cite examples. Summarize the consensus view of that hypothesis in the medical community?

A: There is currently no definitive evidence in the medical literature that acetaminophen (paracetamol) causes autism, though some studies have explored potential associations. The overwhelming consensus in the medical community is that any observed links are small, likely due to confounding factors, and do not prove causation.

Review of Medical Literature

• Large-scale population studies, including one using data from 2.5 million Swedish births, found a very slight increase in autism diagnoses among children whose mothers used acetaminophen during pregnancy (1.42% vs 1.33%), a difference researchers call “very small.”
• Critical sibling comparison studies, which control for genetic and environmental factors, have shown that this small association disappears when comparing siblings—one exposed and one unexposed—implying that family or environmental background, not the drug, likely explains the observed association.
• Meta-analyses and systematic reviews (e.g., Mount Sinai, 2025), even those synthesizing dozens of research articles, conclude that evidence for causation is lacking: “correlation does not imply causation” and more rigorous research is needed.
• Most studies that report any link are observational and acknowledge potential biases, such as confounding by parental mental health, socioeconomic status, and other unmeasured variables.

Regulatory and Expert Consensus

• The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and other medical societies continue to recommend acetaminophen as the safest pain reliever during pregnancy when needed, emphasizing that current evidence does not justify avoiding it completely.
• Medical experts, including leading researchers and autism advocacy groups, have repeatedly stated that the evidence for a link between acetaminophen and autism is weak, inconsistent, and insufficient for policy change.
• The FDA began the process for a label change to reflect that more research is ongoing but has not concluded that acetaminophen causes autism.
• Research groups stress that pain and fever during pregnancy, if left untreated, also carry risks, and alternative drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen are generally riskier in pregnancy.
Examples from Recent Studies
• The JAMA 2024 study found a slight increased risk in exposed children, but this vanished in sibling analyses; unmeasured confounders were likely responsible for the association.
• The 2025 Mount Sinai review of 46 studies found a slight correlation between heavy, prolonged acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental problems, but could not confirm causation, stressing the need for caution and further studies.
• Ann Bauer, author of a study linking acetaminophen to autism, herself cautioned that her findings should not be regarded as conclusive and advocated balanced, judicious use.

Summary: Medical Consensus

The current consensus is that evidence does not support a causal link between acetaminophen exposure (including in pregnancy) and autism. Associations found in some studies are weak, likely attributable to confounding, and are not grounds for a change in medical advice or public health recommendations at this time. Research continues, but current guidance is to use acetaminophen as needed, at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest required duration, while consulting healthcare providers for specific concerns.

Citations

These resources provide in-depth scientific reviews, news coverage, and official statements regarding acetaminophen and autism risk.

Sign in to post a comment!