A recent study conducted as part of the Illinois Kids Development Study reveals a connection between increased acetaminophen usage during pregnancy, particularly in the second trimester, and a rise in attention and behavior problems in children aged 2 to 4. The study tracked over 300 children, assessing their behaviors and traits at different stages.
While acetaminophen is generally considered a safe painkiller during pregnancy, the research indicates a trend where higher usage, especially in the second trimester, correlates with attention-related problems and ADHD-type behaviors in children. The findings, published in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology, contribute to growing concerns about the impact of acetaminophen on child development.
The Illinois Kids Development Study, which explores the influence of environmental exposures on child development, collected data on prenatal chemical exposures and evaluated children’s behaviors at ages 2, 3, and 4. Previous studies linked acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy to language delays in children.
Unlike prior research, this study gathered information on acetaminophen use six times throughout pregnancy, providing a more detailed understanding of the drug’s magnitude and timing of exposure. The results indicated that increased acetaminophen use, particularly in the second trimester, was associated with attention-related problems and ADHD-type behaviors at every age measured.
However, the study’s authors caution against interpreting the findings as an indication of ADHD or other disorders, emphasizing the need for more research. The study’s limitations include a predominantly white, non-Hispanic, and economically higher-status participant group. Efforts are underway to broaden the cohort’s diversity.
The researchers stress the importance of further investigation into whether more frequent acetaminophen use during the second trimester may pose specific risks to the developing brain. The study acknowledges the drug’s necessity for certain conditions during pregnancy but encourages a cautious approach.
The research was supported by the Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institutes of Health Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes program.
