Autism is genetic. You’re born autistic and you’re autistic for life. But bad science and misinformation have created myths about the causes of autism. This page explains where these rumours came from and how we know they’re wrong.

Myth: Vaccines

Autism is genetic. You’re born autistic and you’re autistic for life, and nothing you do changes that, including getting vaccines.

In the 1990s, some bad science caused a ‘health scare’ about the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is where the worries about autism and vaccines came from. This bad science has been shown to be completely wrong.

Bad science caused worries about the MMR vaccine

In 1998, the English former surgeon Andrew Wakefield published a paper that falsely suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Wakefield had faked data and had been dishonest about his findings. He hadn’t explained that he was being funded by lawyers who wanted to sue vaccine manufacturers, or that he stood to make millions of pounds from the fake research by selling testing kits.

In 2010, Wakefield’s paper was retracted (taken back) by the journal that had published it, the Lancet. And Wakefield was ‘struck off’ (banned from working in medicine forever) by the General Medical Council.

Even though the research was fake, news stories about it made lots of people worry about having the MMR vaccine. Around the world, fewer people got the vaccine, and this led to outbreaks of deadly disease.

Myth: Taking paracetamol in pregnancy

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the NHS says paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller and it is safe for your baby.

There is no link between taking paracetamol in pregnancy and having an autistic child.

Health misinformation from the American government

In September 2025, American President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an announcement linking paracetamol (known as ‘acetaminophen’ and brand name ‘Tylenol’ in America) with autism.

This is health misinformation. It is safe to take paracetamol during pregnancy and there is no link with autism.

Research into paracetamol and autism

Trump and Kennedy Jr. based their announcement on a research review published by Harvard in August 2025.

The Harvard review has been strongly criticised for misrepresenting the facts, and its conclusions have been rejected. Scientists were also very worried about bias because the author had been an expert witness in a legal case against the makers of Tylenol.

Two other studies have been done recently: a very large and high-quality Swedish study in 2024; and a full research review by the British Medical Journal in November 2025. In both cases, research was carried out in the right way, so the results can be trusted. They both found that it's safe to take paracetamol during pregnancy and there is no link with autism.

Autism is caused by genetics. Read more about this on our page What causes autism?

Statements from British medical institutions

After seeing the health misinformation from the American government, the UK Medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency (MHRA) made a statement confirming that "taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe and there is no evidence it causes autism in children".

Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said: "Pregnant women should continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy."

Paracetamol is commonly used to manage pain and fever. Dr Cave highlights that "Untreated pain and fever can pose risks to the unborn baby, so it is important to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment."

The British Medical Journal looked at all the recent research into paracetamol and autism (and ADHD) and confirmed there is no link.

Myth: Parenting

Autism is genetic. You’re either born autistic or not. Nothing can change that, including how you’re parented.

Bad science caused worries about ‘refrigerator parents’

In the mid-1900s, psychologists Leo Kanner and Bruno Bettelheim thought autism might be caused by a ‘cold’ (uncaring) parenting style. In particular, they blamed what they called ‘refrigerator mothers’.

There was no evidence for these claims, but they were very influential and harmful. Research that started to show autism is genetic made people realise that these claims were wrong.

Today, no one believes parenting causes autism. But even now some parents say they feel blamed for their children being autistic, particularly when trying to get the right support put in place. This is wrong and shouldn’t happen.