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At a news conference on September 22, President Trump claimed that taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, during pregnancy “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.” Many experts have pushed back on the statement, saying it’s a false claim that downplays the risks of fever during pregnancy, which Tylenol may be used to treat.
Autistic people and their families also raised concerns about the language used and the premise that autism is a scourge that needs to be eliminated.
Host Flora Lichtman digs into what we know about acetaminophen use during pregnancy with epidemiologist Brian Lee, who led one of the largest peer-reviewed studies looking at the link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism in children.
We plan to continue our coverage about misinformation around neurodivergence, which is why we want you in the conversation. What questions do you have about the science of autism? Call us at 877-4-SCIFRI.
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Segment Guests
Brian Lee
Dr. Brian Lee is a professor of epidemiology at Drexel University, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Segment Transcript
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Meet the Producers and Host
About Dee Peterschmidt
Dee Peterschmidt is a producer, host of the podcast Universe of Art, and composes music for Science Friday’s podcasts. Their D&D character is a clumsy bard named Chip Chap Chopman.
About Rasha Aridi
Rasha Aridi is a producer for Science Friday and the inaugural Outrider/Burroughs Wellcome Fund Fellow. She loves stories about weird critters, science adventures, and the intersection of science and history.
About Flora Lichtman
Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.