Study: Prenatal Acetaminophen Use Not Tied to Autism, ADHD

February 13, 2026

Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol), also known as paracetamol, does not increase the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability in children when used as directed, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health.¹

These findings contradict recent unfounded assertions by the White House and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that acetaminophen use by mothers in pregnancy causes autism and other neurological conditions in their children.

The Lancet study analyzed databases from Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library from inception to Sept 30, 2025, and identified 43 studies for inclusion in the systematic review and 17 for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A primary analysis of sibling comparison studies revealed that acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy was not associated with an elevated incidence of ASD, ADHD, or intellectual disability. These results remained stable across subgroups, low-bias studies, and studies restricted to more than 5 years of follow-up.

At a press conference on September 22, 2025, President Donald Trump cited a review linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to neurodevelopmental outcomes.² This association, however, was not shown to be causal. In addition, the researchers who worked on the Lancet study found that the review was limited by variability in the data and significant differences in how studies defined exposure and outcomes.

To date, no studies show that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes ASD.

“There is no scientific evidence supporting a causal link between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism,” says Gloria Han, Ph.D., assistant professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Observational studies have reported correlations, but larger sibling-comparison studies suggest these associations are likely confounded by genetic or familial factors rather than a direct effect of acetaminophen.”

Findings from The Lancet concur. “Explaining the potential causal relationship between paracetamol [acetaminophen] and conditions such as autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability is challenging,” the study’s authors wrote. “Earlier meta-analyses suggested increased likelihood of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD, but these were characterized by high heterogeneity and by reliance on conventional observational designs susceptible to residual confounding.”

More plausible explanations for previously observed associations between acetaminophen use and autism, ADHD, and intellectual disorders, the researchers explained, include familial and genetic factors, and other pre-existing conditions.

“Paracetamol [acetaminophen] is typically used only intermittently, and its prolonged use raises questions about whether the underlying health condition prompting extended use might be more important in shaping neurodevelopmental outcomes rather than the drug itself,” they wrote.

In contrast, large, methodologically rigorous studies provide strong evidence against a causal link. For example, a 2024 Swedish cohort study including 2.47 million births found no association between acetaminophen and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability after comparing full siblings who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy to those who were not exposed. ³

Acetaminophen is widely regarded as the preferred first-line therapeutic option for pain relief and fever reduction, and both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) state that the over-the-counter medication is safe for use during pregnancy.

The researchers cautioned that avoiding acetaminophen use in pregnancy might increase the risk of maternal fever or severe pain, both of which can contribute to adverse outcomes.

“Untreated maternal fever has been linked to miscarriage, congenital defects, and preterm birth,” they wrote. “For this reason, discouraging the appropriate use of paracetamol [acetaminophen] has the potential to cause greater harm than the drug itself.” ⁴, ⁵

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