Study Links Common Painkiller Use in Pregnancy to Higher Autism, ADHD Risk in Children

Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen — a widely used over-the-counter pain reliever — may be associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study published in BMC Environmental Health. Conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of

Acetaminophen, known globally as paracetamol, is the most commonly used medication for pain and fever relief during pregnancy. More than half of pregnant women worldwide reportedly use the drug. While it has long been considered the safest option during pregnancy, the Mount Sinai-led review of 46 studies involving over 100,000 participants now challenges that assumption.

Using the Navigation Guide Systematic Review framework, the team evaluated each study’s risk of bias, data completeness, and overall evidence strength. Their analysis revealed that higher-quality studies were more likely to find a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.

“Our findings show that higher-quality studies are more likely to show a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of autism and ADHD,” said Dr. Diddier Prada, lead author and Assistant Professor of Population Health Science and Policy at Mount Sinai. “Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications.”