Together with his Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., they argued that a painkiller prescribed for pregnant women and early circumcision in children could promote a higher rate of ASD cases.
Another unfounded theory about autism, was expressed this Thursday by the American president donald trump and his Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This time linked to circumcision and the pain medication provided after this procedure.
“Do not take Tylenol if you are pregnant and when the baby is born, do not give him Tylenol“, said trump during a cabinet meeting. Kennedy added that “there are two studies that show that boys circumcised early have twice the rate of autism (…). It is very likely because they are given Tylenol.”
Experts ridiculed this claim, pointing out that “the study cited by proponents of this theory is riddled with errors and is yet another example of Kennedy’s penchant for pseudoscience.”
“None of this makes sense”the professor and autism expert at Boston University told the press Helen Tager-Flusberg. “None of the studies have shown that giving Tylenol to babies is linked to an increased risk of autism,” he added.
The latest study published in the scientific journal JAMA found no link between Tylenol and autism
For pregnant women, medical associations recommend taking pain relievers that include acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, in moderation. The most rigorous analysis to date, published last year in the scientific journal JAMA, found no link.
Regarding the theory of circumcision, The most cited article that was published by Danish researchers in 2015 was “full of flaws” that were pointed out by other scientists at the time, said David Mandell, a psychiatrist at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Although some studies have suggested a possible association of autism with acetaminophen during pregnancy, no causal link has been proven.
Source: Ambito
