A growing body of research published in 2026 has found no connection between taking Tylenol during pregnancy and autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. The findings come after the Trump administration suggested in September 2025 that prenatal acetaminophen use may raise the risk of autism, a claim that drew sharp pushback from medical experts and professional organizations.
According to Healthline, the new research includes a 20-year study out of Hong Kong that examined a cohort of 708,020 mother-child pairs. Approximately 43.3% of those pairs had prenatal acetaminophen exposure. Researchers used sibling-matched analysis to look for autism and ADHD diagnoses in the children. They found that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen was not associated with an increased risk for either condition. Those findings held consistent across exposure timing, dosage, and pattern.
A large Danish study also found no link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism. In addition, a gold-standard systematic review and meta-analysis found no evidence to support the idea that acetaminophen during pregnancy raises the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement in 2025 responding directly to the administration's claims. "Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy," said ACOG president Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG.
Medical experts have continued to stress that a causal relationship between acetaminophen and neurocognitive outcomes such as autism was never established. The exact cause of autism spectrum disorder is still not fully understood.
The research roundup reported by Healthline notes that the 2026 studies carry large sample sizes and use peer-reviewed methodology. Scientists have described the public confusion following the administration's 2025 statements as damaging to pregnant patients who may depend on acetaminophen to manage pain or fever safely during pregnancy.
