Autistic girl community on Sidechat | For those who don’t know- this is likely about the (FALSE) connection between taking Tylenol during pregnancy and a higher likelihood of the child being autistic + recommending folate as a “cure” or a way to reduce symptoms

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Autistic girl community 6d

For those who don’t know- this is likely about the (FALSE) connection between taking Tylenol during pregnancy and a higher likelihood of the child being autistic + recommending folate as a “cure” or a way to reduce symptoms

Autistic girl community 1w

Please be weary and cautious. Please stay safe. And please stay informed.

150 upvotes, 20 comments. Sidechat image post by Anonymous in Autistic girl community. "Please be weary and cautious.

Please stay safe.

And please stay informed."

121

Anonymous 6d

Couldn’t fit this in the main post- Tylenol is used during pregnancy to reduce fevers (which we have ACTUALLY studied as increasing the risk of birth defects) as well as manage pain. We know that autism is partially influenced by genetics— those who experience chronic pain during pregnancy/in general are generally more likely to be neurodivergent themselves (we love comorbidities!). When you control for genetics/family environment, the association of Tylenol usage and autism disappears.

Anonymous 6d

Thank you OP !!

Anonymous 6d

Such good info and detailed explanation, thank you!!

🍓

Anonymous 6d

Also! The original idea/ “proof” that autism causes autism was in fact by a doctor. He published a study however it was easily disproven and he apologized for it. There is no current proof of what causes autism besides genetics

Anonymous 6d

Also him talking about it as if there has been a sudden rise in autism rather than the fact that we just know more about it nowadays… just like the misconception that it mostly affected little boys.

Anonymous 6d

this was so helpful, thank you OP

Anonymous 6d

That was an amazing and detailed explanation, I understood all of it and it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for spreading scientific literacy!!!

Anonymous

OP 6d

You’re going to hear “leucovorin” a lot in the coming weeks. It’s a medication typically used for chemo side effects that has folate in it. The “theory” is that autistics have autoantibodies that stop folate from entering the brain during development, so introducing more folate can correct low levels in the brain. There are some studies that suggest this is effective, but there’s some glaring issues with this take:

Anonymous

OP 6d

- the existing studies are extremely small, measure outcomes differently, and use different dosages from one another - most (70%) of autistic folks studied DO have these autoantibodies, but so do about half of their neurotypical family members - THE PEOPLE DOING THESE STUDIES OWN THE PATENT FOR THE ANTIBODY TEST. This is a MASSIVE conflict of interest. Preliminary research is being touted as a massive breakthrough for the sake of profit

Anonymous

OP 6d

So with a good faith reading, leucovorin may help some folks improve in some aspects (like verbal communication), but only for a subset of folks with these autoantibodies. With further study we may see some more concrete answers, but this is NOT the “cure” that many will make it out to be.

Anonymous

OP 6d

TLDR: - Tylenol usage is NOT linked to an increased risk of autism and fearmongering pregnant people into not taking it will cause needless pain and suffering. - Leucovorin (folate), MIGHT be helpful for a subset of autistic folks to help reduce/ improve symptoms, but results are modest at best and more research is needed - The “autism epidemic” doesn’t exist. We’ve just gotten better at recognizing autism that was already there, and it’s not the socially damning diagnosis it once was

Anonymous

OP 6d

Thank you for explaining all of this in full detail I really appreciate it

Anonymous

OP 6d

Well said. He’s acting like it’s an illness that needs to be cured. Went and cut funding towards cancer research so we can find a “fix” for autism that doesn’t need cured. Smh.

Anonymous

strawberry_hair 6d

Not only was it disproven, but he got sued like crazy for it due to a MASSIVE conflict of interest and just faulty science in general.

🍓

Anonymous

#7 6d

Oh no absolutely. I’m giving the basic information but you are 1000% correct

Anonymous

OP 6d

Did u just say Tylenol is not linked to an increased risk of a*****

-2

Anonymous

#9 4d

Yes because it’s not. There’s literally not one single study supporting that claim. Tylenol doesn’t cause autism and autism has been around since before Tylenol was created. Autism is genetic.

Anonymous

#8 3d

This makes me very happy :) one of my favorite things to do is break down big concepts so people are able to understand it!