
09/06/2025
🚨 Study Alert: Paracetamol use in pregnancy linked to autism & ADHD risk
Taking paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy may increase the chances of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD in children, according to new research.
🔍 Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US) reviewed 46 studies with over 1 lakh participants worldwide.
📌 Findings show higher-quality studies are more likely to confirm this link.
📌 Paracetamol crosses the placental barrier, potentially causing oxidative stress, hormone disruption, and gene-level changes that can affect foetal brain development.
⚠️ While paracetamol is widely used for fever, headache, and pain relief, experts caution that even a small risk increase has major public health implications.
With autism and ADHD cases rising globally, these findings call for stricter clinical guidelines, patient education, and informed choices during pregnancy.