The study seeks to counter the political noise surrounding the issue, aiming to provide robust evidence amid public discourse sparked by high-profile remarks.

Findings were reported in The Lancet and trace back to coverage by The New York Times, with attention to statements from political figures and health advisers.

The analysis pooled 43 studies, prioritizing the largest datasets and those that controlled for genetics, including sibling comparisons, to minimize bias.

Paracetamol remains the recommended first-line treatment for pain or fever in pregnancy, aligning with current national and international guidelines.

Public health officials and researchers have long worried about acetaminophen use during pregnancy, but a new Lancet review finds no causal link to autism or ADHD when high-quality evidence is considered.

The researchers respond to a September 2025 government claim by highlighting limitations in prior data variability and exposure/outcome definitions in earlier work.

A gold-standard approach was used, including long-term follow-up of five years or more and sibling comparisons to strengthen credibility.

The findings are framed within ongoing debate and acknowledge limitations of observational studies, such as recall bias and unmeasured confounding.

Stakeholders like the National Autistic Society note that media attention often outpaces corroborating research, while overall evidence remains important.

Earlier studies suggesting a link often had small samples or relied on self-reported data; the current analysis uses more robust methods and addresses confounding where possible.

Many prior associations are attributed to bias or confounding, which the new analysis aims to mitigate.

Public health figures criticized sensational claims and urged clinicians and the public to follow medical guidance, not political rhetoric.