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 in the present day, President Trump introduced that federal well being officers would discourage pregnant girls from taking the ache drug acetaminophen, which is the energetic ingredient in Tylenol. He stated the drug may improve a baby’s danger of growing autism.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So taking Tylenol just isn’t good. All proper, I will say it. It isn’t 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: Hey.
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 Providers 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 in regards to the risks of childhood vaccines, which he has additionally advised could cause autism. However finally, he obtained 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 known as folinic acid or leucovorin.
CHANG: OK, let’s speak first about acetaminophen as a result of I believed docs 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 any 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 have been pregnant appeared to be a bit extra prone to have a baby 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 doable danger from acetaminophen, however Bauer additionally was fearful that it is perhaps too quickly to have the federal authorities providing steering on its use.
ANN BAUER: I am just a little involved about how this message goes to return out as a result of I believe they might be leaping the gun. I believe these of us within the analysis group want to see stronger proof.
CHANG: Properly, what sort of proof would she prefer to see?
HAMILTON: The prevailing proof in folks is generally within the type of affiliation research, which might’t present trigger and impact. They’re not like a medical trial, which has some contributors obtain a drug, and others do not. And most scientists have been fairly skeptical about going from an affiliation examine to vary in coverage. Additionally they say {that a} drug or different environmental trigger may be very unlikely to clarify 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 might say that the newest research of acetaminophen recommend that the genetic components are fairly sturdy 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 components, like the big Swedish examine that was achieved not too long ago, 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 may improve the danger 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 remedy?
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, nevertheless it’s not clear that folate is missing in folks with autism.
CHANG: That’s NPR’s Jon Hamilton. Thanks a lot, Jon.
HAMILTON: You are welcome.
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