Almost 1 in 4 Americans Believe Misinformation About Cause of Autism

A new national survey published in JAMA Health Forum finds that nearly one in four U.S. adults believe misinformation linking childhood vaccines or acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism.

The study of 30,288 adults found that 27% incorrectly identified childhood vaccines and 23% identified prenatal acetaminophen use as autism risk factors, despite evidence that genetics account for about 80% of autism risk. Adults ages 35 to 44 were most likely to endorse these claims, while adults 65 and older were least likely.

The findings highlight the need for clear, evidence-based public health messaging to counter persistent autism misinformation. Read mor from CIDRAP here.