The White House is preparing a statement: the use of Tylenol during pregnancy has been linked to autism in future children
Donald Trump’s administration is preparing for a high-profile medical statement that has already sparked heated discussions in the scientific community. According to data edition of The Washington Post, on Monday federal officials plan to release the results of studies that allegedly indicate a possible link between the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism in children. At the same time, the White House will introduce another drug, leucovorin, as a potential treatment for autism.
U.S. Department of Health officials reviewed previous work, including an analysis conducted this summer by researchers at Harvard and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. It talks about the possible risk of using acetaminophen in early pregnancy. According to sources, the Trump administration plans to warn pregnant women against the use of Tylenol, except in cases of high fever.
At the same time, the authorities intend to draw attention to leucovorin, a drug commonly used to reduce the toxic effects of certain drugs and treat vitamin B9 deficiency. Several clinical trials involving children with autism have shown that leucovorin can significantly improve their ability to speak and understand others. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing the possibility of official approval of this direction.
President Donald Trump personally announced a “very important” medical event, saying over the weekend:
“We found the answer to autism.”
Key figures in his administration are taking part in the development of the new initiative: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA chief Marty Macari and National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhagattacharya. It is on Monday that the NIH also plans to present a new scientific program — grants for 13 research teams that will work on the cause and treatment of autism.
The White House emphasizes that the president is keeping his promise to fight the “autism epidemic” and is betting on “gold standard science.” At the same time, scientific circles fear that the administration’s statements may be premature and risk causing a public outcry that could affect the practice of prescribing drugs in the United States and around the world.
An official news conference in Washington is expected to take place on Monday, where Trump and his team will present their autism program, which the president said will be “historic.”
