A study in the US will examine the link between autism and taking antipyretics during pregnancy.

U.S. Surgeon General Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to release a report in September that will likely identify the use of fever-reducing Tylenol during pregnancy and low folic acid levels as possible factors in autism, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Tylenol's active ingredient is acetaminophen, a popular pain reliever, including among pregnant women. Some scientists have previously identified a risk to fetal development when taking the drug, but several other large studies have found no association. Experts from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists confirm that the drug is safe for pregnant women, but, as with any medication, they recommend consulting a DOCTOR before using it.

Tylenol is manufactured by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a division of Kenvue. Following the WSJ article's publication, the company's shares fell 9.3%. Kenvue stated that it sees no proven link between acetaminophen use and the risk of autism. The company noted that the US Food and Drug Administration and other HEALTH organizations had previously approved the drug's active ingredient for use during pregnancy.

"We are using the best available science to understand the causes of the unprecedented rise in autism cases in America. Until the final report is published, any statements about its contents are pure speculation," the Financial Times quotes a US Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among eight-year-olds in 2022 will be 32.2 per 1,000, or approximately one in 31 children. In 2020, the rate was one in 36. In April, Kennedy Jr. promised to determine "what is causing the autism epidemic" within five months. Experts criticized the deadline, noting that full-scale studies take years.

Kennedy Jr. is known for promoting numerous unscientific statements and conspiracy theories. During the Senate's consideration of his nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, it was noted that in the past four years alone, Kennedy Jr. has made 114 negative statements about vaccinations , including 36 that directly linked childhood vaccinations to autism. These findings have been repeatedly refuted by scientists.

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