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 girls from taking the ache drug acetaminophen, which is the lively ingredient in Tylenol. He stated the drug might enhance a toddler’s threat of creating autism.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So taking Tylenol is just not good. All proper, I will say it. It is not good. Because of this, they’re strongly recommending that girls restrict Tylenol use throughout being pregnant until medically crucial.
CHANG: Trump additionally stated the Meals and Drug Administration would change the label of a most cancers drug to encourage its use as a therapy 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, after all, 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 recommended may cause autism. However finally, he received round to asserting his newest plan to cut back the charges of autism, which is now identified in about 1 in 3 kids 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 girls who reported taking acetaminophen whereas they have been pregnant appeared to be a bit extra more likely to have a toddler who was later identified with autism. Earlier than the press convention, I spoke with an creator of a type of research, Ann Bauer. She’s an epidemiologist on the College of Massachusetts who thinks pregnant girls needs to be informed about potential threat from acetaminophen, however Bauer additionally was anxious that it is perhaps too quickly to have the federal authorities providing steering on its use.
ANN BAUER: I am a bit involved about how this message goes to return out as a result of I feel they might be leaping the gun. I feel these of us within the analysis neighborhood want to see stronger proof.
CHANG: Effectively, what sort of proof would she prefer to see?
HAMILTON: The prevailing proof in individuals is usually 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 examine to vary in coverage. In addition they say {that a} drug or different environmental trigger could be very unlikely to elucidate a lot a couple of 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 components 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 threat issue for autism. He additionally says research that attempt to account for these genetic components, like the massive Swedish examine that was accomplished lately, they don’t discover a hyperlink between autism and acetaminophen. Sabat additionally notes that taking acetaminophen throughout being pregnant can imply {that a} lady has well being issues that trigger ache, well being issues that additionally may enhance the chance of autism.
CHANG: And actual fast, Jon, what about this type of vitamin B that they talked about? Might or not it’s helpful as a therapy?
HAMILTON: A scientific case for that’s fairly weak. It is sometimes prescribed to sufferers present process most cancers chemotherapy. It does assist the physique produce folate, however it’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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