In a surprising statement last year, Donald Trump created a stir within the global medical community by claiming to have discovered the cause of autism during a press conference in the Oval Office. The US President suggested a link between the use of paracetamol, known as Tylenol in the US, by pregnant women and the development of autism in their children. However, a groundbreaking scientific review released in the esteemed Lancet medical journal today refutes this assertion.
Laura Lacey, 46, and her teenage daughter Eva, both diagnosed with autism, were among the many individuals who were troubled by Donald Trump’s unsupported statements regarding the origins of the neurological condition. Laura shared with the Mirror how Eva, at 14 years old, inquired about her use of paracetamol during pregnancy. She expressed her dismay over President Trump wrongly implicating a whole generation of mothers of autistic children.
The research, considered the “gold standard,” examined 43 high-quality studies involving over a million children to investigate the impact of paracetamol use during pregnancy on the risk of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability in offspring. The findings revealed that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not elevate the likelihood of these conditions.
Laura emphasized the importance of dispelling the guilt unfairly placed on mothers for their children’s autism. She highlighted the danger of spreading false narratives, such as the one proposed by the US administration, and urged caution against believing unfounded claims that could potentially harm unborn babies.
