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Wide release date: August 30, 2025

Episode Summary: Dr. William Parker talks about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its rising prevalence since the 1980s, and the controversial hypothesis that acetaminophen exposure in susceptible infants and children triggers most cases via oxidative stress. They discuss ASD's clinical definition; historical misconceptions like the "refrigerator mother" theory; genetic susceptibilities; acetaminophen's metabolism, which produces toxic byproducts in underdeveloped livers, leading to brain effects. The conversation covers evidence from animal studies, epidemiological data, and cultural variations, while addressing vaccine myths, policy implications, and safer alternatives for pain and fever in early life.

About the guest: William Parker, PhD spent nearly 30 years as a professor at Duke University researching underlying causes of chronic conditions, including discovering the immune function of the human appendix and pioneering studies on immune systems in wild animals.

Discussion Points:

* Autism is a spectrum disorder with core symptoms like social deficits, repetitive behaviors, and aversion to new stimuli; its prevalence has risen dramatically since the 1980s, likely due to both genuine increases and heightened awareness.

* Mainstream views attribute autism to complex gene-environment interactions, but Parker argues overwhelming evidence points to acetaminophen as the primary trigger in susceptible individuals, causing oxidative stress via toxic metabolite NAPQI.

* Acetaminophen, marketed as Tylenol or paracetamol, was not tested for neurodevelopmental effects in neonatal animals until 2014, despite widespread use since 1886; it's metabolized differently in babies, whose livers lack mature detox pathways.

* Susceptibility factors include low glutathione (an antioxidant), poor sulfation/glucuronidation metabolism, folate receptor autoantibodies, and events like immune reactions that prompt acetaminophen use during oxidative stress.

* Evidence includes: animal studies showing male-specific brain damage and autism-like behaviors; higher autism risk with perinatal acetaminophen exposure (e.g., in cord blood); low autism rates in non-modern societies without the drug; and more.

* Regressive autism, where children lose milestones after seeming normal, often follows acetaminophen given for fevers or illnesses, explaining parental vaccine suspicions (as shots coincide with drug use).

* Adult acetaminophen is generally safe but causes liver toxicity in overdoses or with alcohol; antidote is N-acetylcysteine to boost glutathione.

* Parker has suggested to policymakers that we should avoid acetaminophen during pregnancy, birth, and early childhood (under age 3-5); parents should plan ahead for fevers/pain without it, but seek medical help for unusual symptoms.

Related episode:

* M&M 246: Appendix, Gut Worms, Allergies & Autoimmunity | William Parker

Reference Paper:

* Evaluating the Role of Susceptibility Inducing Cofactors and of Acetaminophen in the Etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

*Not medical advice.

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* Episode transcript below.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 Intro

00:04:33 Autism Definition

00:09:00 Prevalence Changes

00:14:56 Controversy Reasons

00:19:51 Entry into Field

00:24:27 Acetaminophen Introduction

00:29:18 Metabolism & Effects

00:34:18 Historical Assumptions

00:39:20 Sensitivity Factors

00:44:07 Multiple Sensitivities

00:46:41 Connecting Dots

00:51:59 History of Use

00:57:26 Evidence Lines

01:02:00 Perinatal Metabolism

01:07:45 Oxidative Stress

01:13:12 Research Views

01:18:43 Regressive Autism

01:23:13 Adult Toxicity

01:28:00 Alternatives & Advice

01:32:29 Counter Arguments

01:37:56 Final Thoughts

Full AI-generated transcript below. Beware of typos & mistranslations!