HHS Report Expected to Link Tylenol Use During Pregnancy to Autism

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to release a report suggesting a potential link between the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy and autism in children, amid ongoing investigations into the causes of the autism epidemic. The report, overseen by the National Institutes of Health and expected publicly this month, also explores the role of low folate levels and introduces a possible treatment derived from folate for autism symptoms. However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has labeled the report's details as speculation pending its official release, and the manufacturer of Tylenol, Kenvue, maintains that no causal link has been proven. The announcement has already caused a significant market reaction, with Kenvue's shares falling sharply following the Wall Street Journal's report. The administration's careful approach aims to differentiate well-established scientific facts from areas still under investigation in autism research, reflecting the complexity of the disorder’s causes. This development comes amid heightened public and political interest, with some administration figures and commentators already discussing the potential findings publicly.