Curie Brief
Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
News
Experts at a major pharmacoepidemiology conference reviewed the evidence on prenatal acetaminophen use and autism risk — and found it unconvincing. Despite public alarm fueled by government officials in 2025, the overall data show no consistent dose-response relationship and no established causal link. Scientists stress that confounding factors, methodological flaws, and poor risk communication are driving the controversy more than the drug itself.
At the 42nd annual conference of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology in Milan, experts took a hard look at the evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen use to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — and the verdict was clear: the science doesn't support a causal connection. The session, designated a "Hot Topic," came in the wake of 2025 statements by US government officials that sparked widespread public concern about a drug long considered safe during pregnancy.
Researchers from Harvard, Karolinska Institutet, and the University of Florida reviewed both prospective studies and large administrative cohort studies (some covering up to 2.5 million pregnancies). They found no consistent dose-response relationship, no identified window of vulnerability during pregnancy, and similar associations with other analgesics — suggesting acetaminophen itself may not be the culprit.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With acetaminophen being one of the most commonly used medications in pregnancy, misleading risk communication can push patients toward potentially less safe alternatives. Experts urge clinicians and science communicators to lead with empathy, context, and transparency — not fear.
