Podcast: Another Autism Scare? Breaking Down the Tylenol Hype

By Cameron English and ChuckDinerstein — Oct 14, 2025

Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. launched a new wave of hysteria by announcing that Tylenol could be linked to autism. The result was a predictable partisan squabble with both sides lining up behind their preferred studies and experts. Let's put aside the partisanship and try to make sense of the competing scientific claims.

Image: Wikipedia

Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 137 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they tackle the Tylenol scandal.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) in Pregnancy: Relief or Risk?

For decades, expectant mothers have turned to acetaminophen as the go-to remedy for pain and fever, reassured by its reputation for safety. But science rarely deals in absolutes. A growing body of research challenges this long-held assumption, pointing to possible links between prenatal use and later neurodevelopmental issues in children. How do we balance maternal comfort against potential risks for the next generation?

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Cameron English

Director of Bioscience

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project.