152 – Why RFK Jr. is wrong to claim that Tylenol causes autism episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 17, 2025 · 33 MIN

152 – Why RFK Jr. is wrong to claim that Tylenol causes autism

from The Body of Evidence · host The Body of Evidence

EPISODE 152 – Why RFK Jr. is wrong to claim that Tylenol causes autism. According to the Wall Street Journal, RFK Jr. and the HHS are planning to release a report claiming acetaminophen (Tylenol/paracetamol) is inked to autism spectrum disorder. The evidence says he’s wrong. Not just because the better quality studies show no link, not just because autism is probably mostly genetic with some minor environmental factors impacting its prevalence, but also because the alternatives to Tylenol for pain/fever control are much worse.   Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you! http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/ https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE Email us your questions at [email protected]. Editor:    Robyn Flynn Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information. References: 1)    The Wall Street Journal article:  https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/rfk-jr-hhs-to-link-autism-to-tylenol-use-in-pregnancy-and-folate-deficiencies-e3acbb4c 2)    Chris article in the Montreal Gazette: https://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/article1154467.html 3)    The safety warning about NSAIDs in pregnancy: https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs-nsaids-drug-safety-communication-avoid-use-nsaids-pregnancy-20 4)    The 2024 Swedish study that used sibling controls: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2817406 5)    Data showing the roughly 3:1 preponderance of males vs. females with autism https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34855727/ 6)    Some of the environmental factors that may affect autism spectrum disorder https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21746727/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 17, 2025

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

152 – Why RFK Jr. is wrong to claim that Tylenol causes autism

0:00 33:56

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Body of Evidence?

This episode is 33 minutes long.

When was this The Body of Evidence episode published?

This episode was published on September 17, 2025.

Can I download this The Body of Evidence episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!