U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference at the Department of Health and Human Services on April 16, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Later today, the Trump administration is anticipated to announce a controversial claim linking prenatal use of acetaminophen-the main component in Tylenol-to an elevated risk of autism-expert-early-intervention-urgency/” title=”… Expert Urges Immediate Action: The Hidden Risks of Delaying Early Intervention”>autism spectrum disorder, despite the absence of definitive scientific proof establishing causation.
Additionally, officials from the White House are expected to propose that leucovorin, a derivative of vitamin B commonly administered alongside chemotherapy, might serve as a potential treatment for autism.
“We are preparing to unveil one of the most significant medical announcements in our nation’s history,” President Trump declared on Sunday evening, referencing a press briefing scheduled for Monday afternoon. “I believe we have discovered a breakthrough regarding autism.”
This announcement marks the administration’s latest effort to challenge established scientific consensus on widely used medications, ranging from vaccines to abortion drugs, fueling debates that critics argue are politically motivated attempts to discredit scientific authorities.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has consistently focused on autism since assuming office. He vowed to identify its cause within months and has implicated various factors including artificial food colorings, childhood immunizations, and the use of pain relievers.
However, while autism diagnoses have surged threefold over the last twenty years, acetaminophen consumption has remained relatively constant during the same period.
Genetics are widely recognized by researchers as a primary factor influencing autism risk. The condition often runs in families, with identical twins frequently both being diagnosed if one is affected.
Some limited studies have hinted at a possible link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased chances of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet, the most comprehensive research to date-a collaborative NIH-funded study involving U.S. and Swedish scientists-found no evidence supporting an elevated risk.
Prior to the publication of this study in 2024, a U.S. District Court had already reached a comparable verdict in a product liability lawsuit.
Meanwhile, professional organizations such as the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine continue to endorse acetaminophen for managing fever and pain during pregnancy, emphasizing that untreated fevers can lead to serious complications including miscarriage, congenital anomalies, or premature labor, particularly in early gestation.
The forthcoming report is also expected to highlight leucovorin (folinic acid), a vitamin B derivative used to counteract chemotherapy-induced deficiencies, as a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for autism. This suggestion stems from research indicating that many individuals with autism may have metabolic variations that limit folate transport to the brain, with leucovorin potentially bypassing this barrier.
Although leucovorin influences pathways critical to neurological development and is occasionally prescribed off-label for autism, robust clinical evidence supporting its efficacy remains limited.
The Autism Science Foundation recently commented that while four studies have linked low maternal folate levels during pregnancy to a heightened autism risk, the research is preliminary and further investigation is essential before drawing firm conclusions.
