The importance of cognitive ability in autism traits, and how to measure it in those with IDD

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Everyone knows cognitive ability is critical for understanding autism, however, how does it affect developmental trajectories of autism traits, and can it be accurately measured in those with severe intellectual disabilities? We discuss. Plus, more evidence that tylenol doees not cause autism.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41207796

https://www.aaidd.org/docs/default-source/prepressarticles/which-score-for-what-operationalizing-standardized-cognitive-test-performance-for-the-assessment-of-change.pdf?sfvrsn=42950021_0

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33211814

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41203924

Let’s Talk Tylenol

This week the @WSJ reported that the upcoming MAHA report will include acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol in the United States, although it is used all over the world) use during pregnancy as a cause of autism. Acetaminophen is used in about 7.5 % of pregnant women. This is one of many environmental exposures that had previously been investigated in association with an autism diagnosis, but then disproven following rigorous and large scale studies with the right design. For example, is it acetaminophen or fever during pregnancy? Is it acetaminophen or some sort of underlying genetic susceptibility? This week’s ASFpodcast explores the association and what pregnant women should know.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40804730/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40898607/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39982125/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38592388/