Acetaminophen, ADHD, and Autism
Several studies, over the last five years, have reported an association between a woman’s use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related conditions in her offspring. Acetaminophen, aka paracetamol, is a commonly used pain reliever and fever reducer found in multiple over-the-counter products, most notably Tylenol. Rodent studies indicate that acetaminophen can affect neurodevelopment; the drug is toxic to cortical neurons and inhibits fetal testosterone production, “which would critically disrupt brain development,” according to Yuelong Ji et al. Still, regulatory agencies have largely ignored the studies, possibly because they have relied on women’s self-reports instead of using more objective, precise data. Two recent studies have attempted to provide more concrete data.
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