Trump administration links autism development to acetaminophen use

The Trump administration has suggested a connection between pregnant women’s use of acetaminophen (marketed as Tylenol) and the development of autism in children, The Washington Post reports.

The U.S. Department of Health plans to warn women about the risks of taking acetaminophen during early pregnancy if they do not have a fever. The medication is commonly used not only to reduce fever but also as a pain reliever.

The department is also considering recommending calcium folinate as a potential treatment for autism. Sold under the brand name Leucovorin, this medication is typically prescribed to counteract side effects from certain drugs and to treat vitamin B9 deficiency.

Plans involving calcium folinate have sparked a new wave of discussion in the scientific community regarding the causes of autism. According to The Washington Post, some experts believe autism has a genetic origin and therefore, in most cases, cannot be “treated.”