Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing a report that will draw a link between the use of the over-the-counter pain reliever Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder, and will propose that a medicine derived from folate could alleviate symptoms in some individuals, people familiar with the matter told news outlets.
Kennedy told Cabinet colleagues in April, "By September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic," according to those present. The forthcoming report is expected to lay out a range of possible causes for the developmental disorder rather than advancing a single definitive explanation, sources said.
People close to the matter described the report as taking a deliberately measured approach, distinguishing between established science and remaining unknowns in autism research. The Nation reported that the document will set out hypotheses and evidence levels, while a Daily Mail article first drew public attention to the administration's focus on acetaminophen in pregnancy.
Autism spectrum disorder affects an estimated one in 31 children in the United States and encompasses a wide range of symptoms, from mild social, speech and movement difficulties to more severe impairments, including self-injurious behavior or a total lack of speech, according to public health data cited by the sources.
The report is expected to include a review of existing studies and data linking prenatal exposures and other environmental factors to neurodevelopmental outcomes, and to identify where scientific consensus exists and where further research is needed. Sources said the document will propose that a folate-derived pharmaceutical might be investigated or considered as a treatment for symptoms in certain subsets of people with autism, but emphasized the proposal will be framed as preliminary and conditional on additional study.
Officials within HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The administration's effort comes amid heightened public and scientific interest in understanding factors that may contribute to rising autism diagnoses and separating robust findings from tentative associations.
Advocates, clinicians and researchers have varied views on potential environmental contributors to autism, and outside experts typically call for careful evaluation of evidence before changing clinical guidance. The report, as described by sources, is intended to clarify what is known and unknown and to highlight areas for further investigation rather than to decree new standards of care.
The timing and public release plan for the report were not finalized, according to people familiar with the work, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations. Kennedy's earlier comment setting a September benchmark has focused attention on the health department's forthcoming findings and the way they might inform future research priorities and public discussion.