US Health Authorities Warn Against Tylenol Use in Early Pregnancy
Leucovorin Gains Attention as Potential Autism Treatment
President Donald Trump of the United States is set to announce large-scale research and policy initiatives regarding the causes and treatment of autism. The announcement will focus on the potential risks of taking Tylenol during pregnancy and the therapeutic possibilities of leucovorin.
According to the Washington Post on September 21 (local time), federal health authorities plan to issue a warning about the association between Tylenol use in early pregnancy and the occurrence of autism. A recent analysis by researchers from Harvard University and Mount Sinai Hospital found that taking acetaminophen during early pregnancy may increase the risk of autism in children. In response, authorities plan to recommend that pregnant women refrain from taking the medication during early pregnancy, except in cases of fever.
Leucovorin Emerges as Autism Treatment... NIH Launches Large-Scale Study
The administration is simultaneously highlighting leucovorin as a promising new treatment for autism. Originally used to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and to treat vitamin B9 (folic acid) deficiency, leucovorin has recently shown significant improvements in language and communication skills among children with autism in clinical trials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly reviewing labeling related to this medication.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is also set to announce the "Autism Data Science Initiative." Thirteen research teams will receive support to study the causes and treatment of autism, and existing research will be re-examined. However, a comprehensive report on autism will not be released this week.
Trump: "We Have Found the Answer to Autism"
On September 21 (local time), President Trump stated at a memorial service for the late Charlie Kirk, "Tomorrow, there will be the largest medical announcement in American history," and added, "We have found the answer to autism." The White House emphasized, "President Trump has pledged to address the rise in autism based on scientific standards, and this announcement will mark historic progress."
This move is creating significant repercussions in both the pharmaceutical industry and academia. The manufacturer of Tylenol has recently contacted the government to express its concerns, and some researchers have pointed out that "claims of identifying the cause of autism in such a short time could undermine scientific credibility."
Particularly noteworthy is that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has a history of asserting a link between autism and vaccines, raising the possibility that this policy announcement could spark further controversy.
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