John Hopkins: taking Tylenol during pregnancy associated with Autism ADHD (2019)
18 hours ago
- #pregnancy
- #ADHD
- #autism
- Exposure to acetaminophen in the womb may increase a child's risk for ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.
- Children with the highest levels of acetaminophen in cord blood were roughly three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or autism.
- The study analyzed data from the Boston Birth Cohort, a 20-year study on pregnancy and child development.
- Previous studies linked maternal acetaminophen use to neurodevelopmental disorders but relied on self-reporting, raising concerns about recall bias.
- The FDA has not made recommendations regarding acetaminophen use during pregnancy due to insufficient evidence.
- The study measured acetaminophen biomarkers in 996 umbilical cord blood samples, all containing some level of the drug.
- Higher acetaminophen exposure correlated with increased risks: middle group had 2.26x ADHD risk and 2.14x autism risk, while the highest group had 2.86x ADHD risk and 3.62x autism risk.
- Associations remained consistent across factors like maternal BMI, preterm birth, child sex, and maternal stressors.
- The study does not prove causation but supports concerns about acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
- Researchers advise weighing benefits and risks when considering acetaminophen use during pregnancy.