Did acetaminophen provoke the autism epidemic?

Altern Med Rev. 2009 Dec;14(4):364-72.

Abstract

Schultz et al (2008) raised the question whether regression into autism is triggered, not by the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, but by acetaminophen (Tylenol) given for its fever and pain. Considerable evidence supports this contention, most notably the exponential rise in the incidence of autism since 1980, when acetaminophen began to replace aspirin for infants and young children. The impetus for this shift - a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning that aspirin was associated with Reye's syndrome - has since been compellingly debunked. If aspirin is not to be feared as a cause of Reyes syndrome, and acetaminophen is to be feared as a cause of autism, can the autism epidemic be reversed by replacing acetaminophen with aspirin or other remedies?

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / administration & dosage
  • Acetaminophen / adverse effects*
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / adverse effects*
  • Aspirin / administration & dosage
  • Autistic Disorder / chemically induced*
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Child, Preschool
  • Fever / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / adverse effects
  • Risk Assessment
  • United States

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin