Thanks to Dan S.
Ed note: We don’t have a quick answer about the multifactorial causes of autism. Tylenol appears to be unproven. Older men appear to be a factor. No doubt there are a number of other reasons as well. How about a viral febrile illness (with or without Tylenol) – could that be a contributor? The President and RFK Jr. like clear and simple one word – often wrong – conclusions. Science is weeping.
SCIENCE CORNER:
- Tylenol is not the problem. Old man sperm is the problem: “Every decade a man ages before conception, the autism risk climbs. It’s measurable. It’s documented. It’s more significant than maternal age. Older dads are also disproportionately responsible for miscarriages. A study of over 130,000 men found that fathers over 40 were 6x as likely to have children born autistic. It is believed that random mutations in a man’s sperm pile up over the years, which can pass genetic mutations to a child and increase their chances of developing a psychological or neurocognitive disorder. But when was the last time you saw a headline screaming “OLDER DADS LINKED TO AUTISM”?” – Liz Plank, Sept. 24, 2025.