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Associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD symptoms measured at ages 7 and 11 years

John M D Thompson1, Karen E Waldie2, Clare R Wall3

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Plos One
|September 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was linked to higher ADHD symptoms in children. This study confirms acetaminophen

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Pediatric behavioral science
  • Prenatal exposure research

Background:

  • Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer.
  • Previous research suggests a potential association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children.
  • Further investigation is needed to confirm and understand this association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate and extend the observed association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD symptoms in school-aged children.
  • To investigate the specificity of this association by examining other commonly used medications during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study, a longitudinal cohort of 871 European infants.
  • Assessment of drug use during pregnancy (acetaminophen, aspirin, antacids, antibiotics) via parent report.
  • Evaluation of behavioral difficulties and ADHD symptoms at ages 7 and 11 using parent and child reports (Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire, Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised).
  • Inclusion of covariates such as birthweight, socioeconomic status, and maternal stress.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half (49.8%) of mothers reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy.
  • Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was significantly associated with higher total difficulty scores at ages 7 and 11.
  • Children exposed to acetaminophen in utero showed an increased risk for ADHD symptoms at both 7 and 11 years of age.
  • No significant associations were found between the use of aspirin, antacids, or antibiotics during pregnancy and ADHD symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Findings strengthen the evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen exposure to an increased risk of ADHD-like behaviors.
  • The study supports the specificity of this association to acetaminophen, as other medications did not show similar links.
  • These results highlight the importance of considering the potential neurodevelopmental impact of common medications used during pregnancy.
Abstract

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