Nerd Immunity

25/09/2025

The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG), together with SOOMSA and SASUOG, have stated:

👉 There is no reliable evidence that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism.
👉 At recommended doses, paracetamol remains the safest and most effective treatment for pain and fever in pregnancy.

📄 Read the full joint statement here: https://sasog.co.za/press-release-paracetamol-use-in-pregnancy/

25/09/2025

24/09/2025

The Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has released a statement about pregnant mothers using paracetamol.

To read the entire statement, head to this link:
ranzcog.edu.au/news/paracetamol-use-in-pregnancy/

24/09/2025

Tylenol does not cause autism.

The recent “Tylenol during pregnancy and autism” paper that’s being cited as proof isn’t proof at all.

Read today’s issue of ImmunoLogic:
🔗 https://news.immunologic.org/the-tylenolautism-pseudoscience-pipeline 🔗

In fact, the lead author, Baccarelli, had these exact claims tossed out of federal court in 2023 for having ZERO scientific merit when he was a paid “expert witness” in lawsuits against Tylenol manufacturers & Walmart.

So he decided to repackage it and get it published in a journal to give it the appearance of legitimacy.

Even though the strongest studies — sibling studies — show NO relationship between autism and Tylenol use during pregnancy. It’s a cherry-picked group of studies that weighs memory recall FAR more heavily than actual data.

THAT is the “study” the Trump administration is using as “proof” Tylenol causes autism. That is the paper they’re using to add warning labels to acetaminophen. That is the paper that Trump based his dangerous — and wrong — medical advice on.

This is ACTUALLY the lawsuit pipeline used by a group of physicians with zero toxicology or biochemistry expertise who brand themselves as “environmental exposure experts” and get academic positions under that heading.

• Get paid to testify as an “expert”
• Publish weak observational science under an academic title
• Use the paper to get credibility for court or policy

This is the exact tactic RFK Jr. has built his career on — turning civil litigation against “chemicals” into a pseudoscience pipeline.

Worse? Now it isn’t just lawyers and grifters—our federal health agencies are legitimizing it.

So as Trump, RFK Jr, and their MAHA allies are screaming about this “paper” as proof Tylenol causes autism, remember:

It’s courtroom testimony that was tossed out for being garbage in 2023, now dressed up for PubMed.

And who is harmed? All of us. The public put at risk by fear, confusion, bad science, and dangerous policy.

Listen to the latest episode where me, Kaveh, and discuss this in more detail too: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dAYcm8NZHr5B5d2rzUPmv?si=x4VOXBClSeKQrLosyAsmEA

24/09/2025

SOOMSA, SASOG & SASUOG confirm: there is no evidence that paracetamol use in pregnancy at recommended therapeutic doses causes autism.

24/09/2025

Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medicine used to reduce fevers and relieve pain. It is sold under many brand names, including Tylenol.

Decades of research have found that acetaminophen is safe for children when administered as recommended. Misleading claims link the medicine to autism. These false claims send a confusing, dangerous message to parents and expectant parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals. Read more at the link below.
https://bit.ly/42G47Y9

23/09/2025

Today’s White House event on autism was filled with dangerous claims and misleading information that sends a confusing message to parents and expecting parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals.

We know autism is complex, highly variable and increasingly linked to genetics. Individualized plans, often involving a combination of developmental, behavioral, educational and social-relational strategies, can help improve outcomes that are meaningful to individuals and families. We also need and welcome additional investments in federally funded research to better support families of autistic children.

Families who have questions about their child’s medications, autism care plans or other health care should consult with their pediatrician or health care provider.
https://bit.ly/4gBDNEc

23/09/2025

All of the experts and scientists around the world are saying one thing, and then there is the current administration.

23/09/2025

Correlation does not equal causation!
The causal fallacy is a tactic that can trip up the best of us! Why? Our brains like to take shortcuts wherever possible (1). So when we see…

A followed by B .

Our brains want to jump to: A caused B.

While causation and correlation can exist at the same time, the two events are often unrelated.

Here is a current example of a causal fallacy.

MISINFORMER: “Autism is caused by acetaminophen (Tylenol) use and low folic acid during pregnancy. A report says so!”

REALITY: One recent meta-analysis found a correlation between these factors and autism. But even the authors stress this does not prove causation (2). Other large-scale studies and reports found no clear link (3,4,5). Cherry-picking one study that shows a correlation and treating it as proof of causation misrepresents the science and ignores the bigger picture.

That doesn’t mean research should stop, only that right now, the evidence does not support a causal connection, even if some studies hint at correlation (6). In other words: Just because a rooster crows before the sun rises doesn’t mean the crowing makes the sun come up.

This claim is also dangerous: acetaminophen is one of the few safe pain relief options for pregnant people. Suggesting they avoid it could leave them without safe treatment when they need it (6,7). Like any medication, acetaminophen isn’t perfect, and has well-known side effects if overused. But there is nowhere near enough evidence to suggest it causes autism. If you are pregnant and in pain, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you’re using it safely for both you and your baby.

We’re here to help answer your questions! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send us a DM. And share this post as a good critical thinking reminder!

Sources: tinyurl.com/SUFCausalFallacy

23/09/2025

Some individuals wrongly assert there is a link between vaccines and autism. Before the claim was discredited, researchers took it seriously, investigated it thoroughly, and found no link. This research, in many countries, involving thousands of individuals, has spanned multiple decades. Any effort to misrepresent sound, strong science poses a threat to the health of children and does a disservice to the autistic community.

Immunizations are important to help children stay healthy, so they can learn, grow and thrive. If parents have questions about vaccines or autism, we encourage them to talk to their child’s pediatrician. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nI0Rnb

22/09/2025

16/09/2025

[COMING UP] WHO says by 2050, at least 2.5 billion people will have developed some sort of hearing loss. The organisation predicts that more than 1 billion young people, face the risk of permanent damage to their hearing. For more on this, we speak with Jennifer Perold, Chief Audiologist at the cochlear implant programme at Tygerberg Hospital.