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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

  • Even if the two were linked correlation between the two does not mean causation. It may mean being pregnant with a child carrying an autistic gene also causes the mother to get more headaches.

  • in reply to VLD
    VLD said:
    Even if the two were linked correlation between the two does not mean causation

    I believe they only stated there was a connection, neither causation or corrolation are claims of the article.

    What other people make of it is a different story but hard facts rarely get in the way of misinformation these days.

  • in reply to Iain

    Perhaps autistic  mothers or  mothers of existing autistic children or mothers with autistic partners may get more headaches and take more paracetamol. There could be all sorts of reasons for a correlation which may even be coincidence.The problem is the allistic (non-autistic) habit of making false assumptions.

    What we do know is that taking paracetamol when necessary to reduce inflammation and high temperatures minimises harm to an unborn child. 

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  • in reply to Iain

    Perhaps autistic  mothers or  mothers of existing autistic children or mothers with autistic partners may get more headaches and take more paracetamol. There could be all sorts of reasons for a correlation which may even be coincidence.The problem is the allistic (non-autistic) habit of making false assumptions.

    What we do know is that taking paracetamol when necessary to reduce inflammation and high temperatures minimises harm to an unborn child. 

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