Overview

• The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar, reports the forthcoming HHS analysis will cite prenatal acetaminophen exposure and low folate as potential contributors and will note folinic acid as a possible way to reduce symptoms for some individuals.
• An HHS spokesperson said the agency is using gold‑standard science and that any characterizations of the report’s contents are speculation until publication.
• Shares of Tylenol parent Kenvue fell roughly 10%–14% after the reports, and the company said it continues to see no proven causal link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism.
• Researchers and medical groups point to mixed evidence, including a 2024 JAMA sibling‑controlled study finding no causal association and guidance from ACOG and the FDA that considers prudent acetaminophen use in pregnancy acceptable, while recent reviews note associations without proving causation.
• NIH is expected this month to announce up to about 25 awards totaling roughly $50 million under the Autism Data Science Initiative tied to the report’s broader research push.