Tylenol (acetaminophen) faces renewed scrutiny over potential links to autism, with significant government attention in 2025. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to release a report this month linking prenatal acetaminophen use to autism spectrum disorder, according to September 2025 Wall Street Journal reporting.

This follows a Mount Sinai study published in August 2025 that applied rigorous methodology to evaluate 46 studies, finding “strong evidence of an association” between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism. However, researchers emphasized this shows association, not causation. Prior to 2025, the NIH published a study, Acute acetaminophen intoxication induces direct neurotoxicity in rats manifested as astrogliosis and decreased dopaminergic markers in brain areas associated with locomotor regulation, in 2019. Additionally, in 2023, the University of North Carolina provided the NIH another study, Dangers of Acetaminophen for Neurodevelopment.

The scientific community remains divided. While autism is a neurodevelopmental condition occurring during brain development, early brain injuries can increase risks of similar symptoms due to overlapping characteristics. Tylenol’s widespread use for treating mild brain injuries adds complexity, as it interacts with 160 medications, some prescribed for neurological conditions.

Medical organizations maintain acetaminophen’s importance. “There is no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and fetal developmental issues,” stated Dr. Christopher Zahn of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in early September 2025. The drug remains crucial for managing fever and pain during pregnancy, when untreated conditions pose significant risks.

The NIH has been funding substantial autism research this year, with 25 awards from a $50 million initiative in 2025. Regardless of the findings of these studies, individual treatment decisions should always involve healthcare providers, balancing individual risk-benefit assessments rather than broad restrictions.