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possible cause of autism?

Iain

I read with interest a new article on the connection with some painkillers used by pregnant women and having neurodiverse children:

https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/prenatal-painkiller-use-associated-with-autism-adhd-in-children-403513

The study links prenatal paracetamol (or Tylenol for US readers) use to increased autism and ADHD risk.

It does emphasise that this is a very early stage connection and may only be contributory so it is wise not to jump to conclusions.

The actual study is here for those of you with an analytical interest:
https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0

The methodology seems sound and it is designed for peer review which would indicate it is a solid piece of research.

An interesting thought experiment arising from this could be:

If you knew taking this painkiller could increase the risk of your child being neurodiverse, would you still take it (assuming no other health risks were present to mother or child)?

Parents
  • Iain said:
    VLD said:
    You don't know how incredibly harmful this sort of misinformation can be.

    Can you back up this claim that it is misinformation?

    In support of   , when I first read this thread, I immediately saw four sources of potential misinformation in just the first sentence: "I read with interest a new article on the connection with some painkillers used by pregnant women and having neurodiverse children":

    1. It refers to “the connection” (rather than, for example, “a potential”). 

    This could mislead people into believing that, this new study aside, it has already been established that a connection exists - which isn't true. 

    2. It refers to a connection between the drug and autism. With our literal-minded autistic tendencies in mind, there's an important difference between a connection and an association. "Connection" is misleading - the study talks about an association:

    The Content Authority - Association vs connection

    3. It refers to “some painkillers” (plural). This could mislead people (again, perhaps especially autistic people) into believing that this “connection” has already been established in respect of multiple other painkilling drugs - which it hasn’t.

    4. It describes “the connection” as relating to mothers having “neurodiverse children”. 

    The paper relates only to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), not to any of the many other forms of neurodivergence. 

    Also, “neurodiverse”, if interpreted in its originally-intended meaning (literally) makes no sense. Neurodivergent might have been a better choice, and NDDs (the actual focus of the paper) an even better one:

    Emergent Divergence - Neurodiversity: the Basics

    NAS - Autism and Neurodiversity

    Reflections on Neurodiversity - Judy Singer's Official Definition of Neurodiversity ©

  • in reply to Bunny

    I think Iain's second sentence clarified most of that already:

    Iain said:

    The study links prenatal paracetamol (or Tylenol for US readers) use to increased autism and ADHD risk.

  • in reply to Damojo

    For those who read further than the first sentence, in respect of the second one: the study suggests an association rather than confirming a link, and it also covers all NDDS, not just autism and ADHD.

    When authoring a new thread about a “possible cause of autism?”, I do think it’s important to be very careful with the language used.

Reply
  • in reply to Damojo

    For those who read further than the first sentence, in respect of the second one: the study suggests an association rather than confirming a link, and it also covers all NDDS, not just autism and ADHD.

    When authoring a new thread about a “possible cause of autism?”, I do think it’s important to be very careful with the language used.

Children
  • in reply to Bunny

    From the study, it would seem that "positive associations" is synonymous with "significant links", so I wouldn't sweat that difference:

    "We identified 46 studies for inclusion in our analysis. Of these, 27 studies reported positive associations (significant links to NDDs), 9 showed null associations (no significant link), and 4 indicated negative associations (protective effects)."

    And nobody here has suggested that this study is "confirming a link". Iain, in another post on this thread, has stated:

    Iain said:
    They claim neither causality or corrolation, only an association.

    Everyone can be a little imprecise at times in an opening, attention-grabbing sentence. I don't think there was any deliberate attempt to mislead.