President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are anticipated to make remarks on a purported hyperlink between Tylenol and autism, and suggest a most cancers drug as an answer.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Throughout a White Home press convention immediately, President Trump introduced that federal well being officers would discourage pregnant ladies from taking the ache drug acetaminophen, which is the lively ingredient in Tylenol. He stated the drug might enhance a baby’s danger of growing autism.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So taking Tylenol just isn’t good. All proper, I am going to say it. It is not good. Because of this, they’re strongly recommending that ladies restrict Tylenol use throughout being pregnant until medically needed.
CHANG: Trump additionally stated the Meals and Drug Administration would change the label of a most cancers drug to encourage its use as a remedy for autism. Right here to speak about all of that is NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton. Hello, Jon.
JON HAMILTON, BYLINE: Hi there.
CHANG: OK, so what was the scene like on the White Home for this announcement?
HAMILTON: Trump, in fact, did many of the speaking, however he was flanked by Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who oversees Medicare and Medicaid. These males principally nodded in settlement. Trump additionally took this actually lengthy detour to speak concerning the risks of childhood vaccines, which he has additionally instructed may cause autism. However finally, he bought round to saying his newest plan to scale back the charges of autism, which is now recognized in about 1 in 3 youngsters within the U.S., and that plan entails discouraging use of acetaminophen, whereas encouraging use of a most cancers drug referred to as folinic acid or leucovorin.
CHANG: OK, let’s discuss first about acetaminophen as a result of I assumed medical doctors say it is the most secure ache drug to take throughout being pregnant. Is there any scientific proof linking it to autism?
HAMILTON: There isn’t a good proof that it causes autism, however there are some research which have discovered an affiliation – in different phrases, that ladies who reported taking acetaminophen whereas they had been pregnant appeared to be a bit extra more likely to have a baby who was later recognized with autism. Earlier than the press convention, I spoke with an creator of a kind of research, Ann Bauer. She’s an epidemiologist on the College of Massachusetts who thinks pregnant ladies needs to be instructed about attainable danger from acetaminophen, however Bauer additionally was frightened that it is perhaps too quickly to have the federal authorities providing steering on its use.
ANN BAUER: I am a bit of involved about how this message goes to come back out as a result of I believe they might be leaping the gun. I believe these of us within the analysis neighborhood wish to see stronger proof.
CHANG: Effectively, what sort of proof would she wish to see?
HAMILTON: The present proof in individuals is generally within the type of affiliation research, which may’t present trigger and impact. They’re not like a scientific trial, which has some individuals obtain a drug, and others do not. And most scientists have been fairly skeptical about going from an affiliation research to vary in coverage. Additionally they say {that a} drug or different environmental trigger may be very unlikely to elucidate a lot a few dysfunction that’s so extremely genetic.
JONATHAN SABAT: We all know now that there are 100 or extra autism genes. And I’d say that the latest research of acetaminophen counsel that the genetic elements are fairly robust on this case.
HAMILTON: That was Jonathan Sabat, a professor of psychiatry on the College of California San Diego. And Sabat says genetics are by far the strongest danger issue for autism. He additionally says research that attempt to account for these genetic elements, like the big Swedish research that was completed just lately, they don’t discover a hyperlink between autism and acetaminophen. Sabat additionally notes that taking acetaminophen throughout being pregnant can imply {that a} girl has well being issues that trigger ache, well being issues that additionally would possibly enhance the chance of autism.
CHANG: And actual fast, Jon, what about this type of vitamin B that they talked about? Might it’s helpful as a remedy?
HAMILTON: A scientific case for that’s fairly weak. It is usually prescribed to sufferers present process most cancers chemotherapy. It does assist the physique produce folate, but it surely’s not clear that folate is missing in individuals with autism.
CHANG: That’s NPR’s Jon Hamilton. Thanks a lot, Jon.
HAMILTON: You are welcome.
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