ADHD in the News 2025-09-25
Trump urges pregnant women to avoid Tylenol; OB-GYN group disagrees
[Excerpt] The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists disagrees with that assessment and reaffirmed the safety and benefits of acetaminophen for pregnant women shortly after Trump’s comments. Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the ACOG, called Monday’s announcement “irresponsible” and said it “dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.” “More than two decades of research have found no causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children,” the ACOG said in a statement.
Paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism, our study of 2.5 million children shows
United States President Donald Trump recently claimed that using the common painkiller acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol and by the brand name Tylenol in the US) during pregnancy is fuelling the rise in autism diagnoses. He then went on to suggest pregnant women should “tough it out” rather than use the common painkiller if they experience fever or pain. This announcement has caused alarm and confusion worldwide. But despite Trump’s claim, there is no strong scientific evidence to back it up. Our study of nearly 2.5 million births in Sweden published in 2024 shows no evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases a child’s risk of autism. This is the largest study conducted on the subject to date.
Harvard Dean Was Paid $150,000 as an Expert Witness in Tylenol Lawsuits
The Trump administration has cited Dr. Andrea Baccarelli’s expertise to warn against using acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — in pregnancy, based on an unproven autism link.
Psychotropic Medications and Child Health (Commentary)
With the release of Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment,1 the federal Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission chaired by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services has elevated poor diet, environmental chemicals, physical inactivity, chronic stress, and medication overprescription as leading threats to the health of our nation’s children. The report could have far-reaching implications for the direction of federal policy and scientific research affecting the health of US children and could profoundly influence public perceptions of the causes of childhood chronic disease.
Multinutrient supplements may ease biological stress in children with ADHD
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who took a multinutrient supplement for eight weeks showed reduced levels of reactive oxygen metabolites, according to a new analysis of biological samples collected during a previously published randomized controlled trial. These findings suggest that improved oxidative balance may be one of the ways multinutrient treatment helps reduce behavioral symptoms in some children with ADHD.
Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Shows Symptom-Specific Benefits in ADHD
Key point: NIBS may offer targeted therapeutic benefits for patients with ADHD, reducing inattention as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms.
Online ADHD Assessments Show Promise
Clinical relevance: A new study finds that a validated online tool for diagnosing adult ADHD performs nearly as well as clinical interviews. The tool proved highly accurate when diagnosing ADHD but weaker at ruling it out. Researchers found it operated more conservatively than clinicians, often withholding a diagnosis rather than risking overdiagnosis. The study suggests such tools could help expand access to ADHD evaluations.
Telehealth Stimulant Prescribing and Substance Misuse Risk: What the Evidence Really Says (Commentary)
This article reviews two large studies from The American Journal of Psychiatry that evaluated whether telehealth prescribing of stimulants for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases substance misuse risk. Findings suggest that while overall risk of developing a substance use disorder was not higher with telehealth, patients starting stimulants via telehealth appeared more likely to develop a stimulant use disorder—likely reflecting underlying patient characteristics rather than the telehealth encounter itself.
Quick Strategies to Boost Working Memory
Key points: Working memory is the ability to hold key information in our mind as we go about our daily lives. For many people with ADHD, working memory is a challenge. Give your brain a rest by employing quick strategies to offload working memory demands on your brain.
Deaths prompt state lawmakers to consider new hyperbaric oxygen therapy rules
Just before 8 a.m. on Jan. 31, an explosion rocked a nondescript one-story office building in an affluent suburb of Detroit. The building was home to The Oxford Center, a health clinic that provided hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat a variety of disorders.
$3.6M NIH grant to study brain patterns in children with ADHD, behavior problems
Researchers will study how the brain processes response to reward and frustration in order to develop more precise treatment options for children with ADHD
How Architecture Can Support Neurodivergent Well-Being
Key points: Designing for sensory variation, resilience, and cognitive well-being isn’t niche—it’s essential. Design shapes how we think, feel, and connect every day. Inclusive spaces—from schools to airports—support calm and focus. Designing for difference helps everyone thrive and belong.