Acetaminophen use during pregnancy not associated with autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability: Study

A recent study published in the JAMA Network has found no evidence linking the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy to an increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability among children. The study, which analyzed data from over 2.4 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019, concluded that the developmental disorders may be associated with other factors and not the use of acetaminophen.

Researchers compared the crude absolute risks at 10 years of age for children who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy to those who were not exposed. They found no significant difference in the rates of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability between the two groups.

Initial analysis did suggest a small increased risk of the disorders among children whose mothers took acetaminophen during pregnancy. However, further analysis using a sibling control method found no link between acetaminophen use and the disorders. The researchers determined that any apparent association between acetaminophen and the disorders was likely a “noncausal association.”

The study also suggested that factors such as the health of the birthing parents and sociodemographic characteristics may explain the apparent link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the developmental disorders. Overall, the findings provide reassurance to pregnant women who may have concerns about the safety of using acetaminophen during pregnancy.

For more information on the study and its findings, you can access the full article published in the JAMA Network.