Unsafe For Kids At Any Dose? New Review Of Science Supports Link Between Tylenol And Autism

Acetaminophen, the ingredient found in hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter medicines — including Tylenol products — is routinely recommended for fever reduction and the relief of mild to moderate pain.

The link between acetaminophen and liver toxicity was established some time ago. But the drug’s effect on the developing nervous system in children — though suspected — was never formally investigated through a clinical study, according to William Parker, Ph.D., CEO of the nonprofit research firm WPLab.

Now, Parker’s new deep literature review has uncovered troubling associations between acetaminophen at typical pediatric doses and serious, likely permanent impairments in cognition and socialization in susceptible children.

The study, published last month in Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics, focused specifically on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In an interview with The Defender, Parker said one reason safety signals went unnoticed for years is that investigators were not looking at the right studies. “Most research to date has focused on acetaminophen use during pregnancy,” he said.

That makes sense, as developing fetuses are particularly vulnerable to drug-related (and other) toxicities.

“But no more than 20% of cases of ASD result from maternal use during pregnancy,” Parker said. “And the real number is probably more like 10% or even less. By far the greatest danger from this drug occurs after the child is born.”

Study identified 2 significant milestones suggesting link between acetaminophen and ASD

Parker has spent close to a decade tracking evidence connecting acetaminophen exposure early in life to ASD in susceptible babies and children.

His latest work examines 20 lines of evidence based on animal studies, connections between ASD and acetaminophen use, associations between acetaminophen and ASD through time, and what was already known about acetaminophen toxicity.

The main takeaways from animal studies:

Long-term brain damage and behavioral changes occur following exposure to acetaminophen early in life, at doses similar or equal to those recommended for children.
Acetaminophen affects the brains of male rats more than female rats; ASD also affects human males more than females.

Acetaminophen kills brain cells in adult test animals at doses lower than required to cause liver damage.