A fresh debate has emerged over whether paracetamol use during pregnancy can cause autism, after US health officials maintained their concerns despite a major scientific review finding no clear link.
According to a report by Daily Mail (UK) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, a comprehensive review published in The Lancet medical journal concluded that there is no convincing evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism or ADHD in children. The findings were widely welcomed by medical experts around the world, who described the research as thorough and reassuring for expectant mothers.
The researchers behind the review analysed 43 previous studies that examined possible connections between paracetamol use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental conditions. Special attention was given to sibling comparison studies, which compare brothers and sisters from the same family to reduce the influence of genetics and shared environmental factors. Using this method, the researchers found no significant association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and autism.
Despite these conclusions, the US Department of Health and Human Services has pushed back, saying that concerns remain within parts of the scientific community. A spokesperson for the department referenced earlier comments by Dr Andrea Baccarelli of Harvard’s School of Public Health, who has suggested that observational studies show a possible causal link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, these studies were not based on controlled clinical trials.
The issue gained political attention last year after President Donald Trump and US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr claimed the common painkiller could be linked to the sharp rise in autism diagnoses. Many scientists strongly disputed those claims, arguing that autism is influenced by a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors.
Sources close to the US administration also criticised the Lancet review, suggesting it failed to consider all available evidence and delayed action that could potentially protect public health. However, other experts described the review as reliable and methodologically sound.
Responding to the criticism, Professor Asma Khalil, who led the Lancet review, said the research did not ignore evidence but instead prioritised higher-quality studies that are better at reducing bias. She explained that earlier links between paracetamol and autism often disappeared when stronger research methods were applied. According to her, the review supports current medical advice that paracetamol remains the safest first-line treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy when used correctly.
Paracetamol, also known as Tylenol in the United States, is widely used by pregnant women. About half of expectant mothers in the UK and nearly two-thirds in the US rely on it to manage headaches, pain, and fever. For decades, it has been considered safe and effective.
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects communication, behaviour, and social interaction. Although diagnoses have risen sharply over the past 20 years, experts continue to debate the reasons, with improved awareness and diagnostic practices believed to play a major role.
The disagreement highlights the ongoing tension between scientific research and political influence, leaving many pregnant women caught between conflicting messages.
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