Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently made a public statement, claiming there might be a connection between early circumcision and an increased risk of autism.

He believes this link is due to the common practice of giving infants Tylenol, also known as acetaminophen, for pain relief after the surgical procedure. Speaking to President Trump during a cabinet meeting, Kennedy cited studies suggesting that "children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism," and he believes this is "highly likely, because they were given Tylenol." This is a significant claim from a top health official, directly questioning standard medical practices.

Also Read: Tramadol, Common Painkiller Found Ineffective For Chronic Pain, May Trigger THIS Serious Health Risk

Can Circumcision Cause Autism?

While RFK Jr did not specify what study made this link, a similar 2015 study has been highlighted by media reports, which could be the study that is being referenced. Published in the Journal of the Royal Society Medicine, 2015, this study from Denmark tracked over 340,000 young boys and found that males who were circumcised were more likely to be diagnosed with autism before they turned 10 compared to those who were not.

The researchers proposed that the pain and stress of the surgery early in life could potentially increase the risk for later problems with brain and psychological development.

However, this study was criticized for the result it came to, with experts refuting the case.

Are Their Studies That Refute ‘Circumcision And Autism’ Link?

Published in the same journal, a 2015 review questioned the validity of the results. They found a very slight, statistically shaky link for ASD in boys aged 0–4. This link was only seen in a small group of 28 Muslim boys who were circumcised before age 2. Due to the statistics, this link really only applied to about 10 boys in the entire study. Among non-Muslim boys aged 0-4 who were circumcised, they noted only six ASD diagnoses.

Furthermore, the data about Muslim boys with ASD seemed wrong. Of the 337 Muslim boys with ASD in the study, the records suggested that only 10.9% were circumcised, with the rest being uncircumcised. Critics say this number is highly unlikely to be accurate and makes the overall findings untrustworthy.

Another explanation for the finding is that boys who are circumcised have more visits with healthcare workers, which could simply mean autism is detected more often in this group, not that the procedure caused it.

Why Only Look at Circumcision Pain?

The authors of the Denmark study suggested that the link to autism was due to the pain of the circumcision procedure. Yet, critics point out a major flaw: if pain is the cause, why didn't the researchers look at other common, painful conditions?

For example, urinary tract infections (UTIs) cause severe pain and are much more common in uncircumcised infants and boys. If the researchers' "pain hypothesis" were correct, then UTIs, and therefore being uncircumcised, should have been linked to a higher rate of ASD. Since they didn't examine this, their focus on circumcision pain is incomplete.

The review concluded that the most likely explanation is that both an early ASD diagnosis and the decision to have an early circumcision are more likely to reflect parental conscientiousness—meaning parents who are more proactive, attentive, and engaged in their child's health and development may seek both the procedure and early developmental screenings.

Why Was Autism Linked To Circumcision Through Tylenol?

This claim has come after the recent announcement by the Trump administration. Announcements were made claiming that Tylenol (known as paracetamol in Australia and other countries) is linked to autism in babies when taken by pregnant women. He strongly suggested that women should "fight like hell" to avoid taking the medication.

Trump told women that continuing to take the medicine means "you can't tough it out," but ultimately it's "up to you and your doctor." His firm advice was clear: "don't take Tylenol. Don't take it. Fight like hell not to take it."

Trump's statements have sparked a strong disagreement among medical professionals. Health experts have stated that the alleged link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism is not supported by scientific evidence.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the age limits under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act of 2021 would not apply to couples who had already frozen their embryos before the Act came into force on January 25, 2022, according to a LiveLaw report.

The court heard petitions from three couples challenging the law’s age restrictions, 23 to 50 years for women and 26 to 55 years for men arguing that these limits should not apply to them since they had preserved their gametes long before the Act became effective.

What Does The Current Surrogacy Law State?

India’s current surrogacy law allows only altruistic surrogacy while banning commercial arrangements. In simple words, altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary payment to the surrogate. Typically, the surrogate is a close family member or friend of the intended parents.

Under the law, Indian married couples, as well as NRIs and OCI cardholders, can opt for surrogacy if they are medically infertile and meet the age and marriage criteria.

Key provisions include:

• Only altruistic surrogacy is permitted.
• Commercial surrogacy is completely banned.
• Eligible couples include Indian, NRI, and OCI married couples.
• Couples must be infertile and married for at least five years.
• Single parents, foreigners, and LGBTQ+ couples are not allowed.
• Surrogates must be a close relative, aged 25–35, and married.
• Surrogates must have at least one biological child.
• Mandatory medical and psychological screening is required.
• Health insurance coverage is required for 36 months after delivery.
• All procedures are overseen by a District Medical Board.

Age Bar Won’t Affect Couples Who Began Process Before 2021 Surrogacy Act

The petitions were filed through infertility specialist Arun Muthuvel, challenging the age-related amendments in the 2021 law. A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and K.V. Viswanathan accepted the plea, stating:

“If the couple had commenced the surrogacy process before January 25, 2022, and were at the stage of embryo freezing after extraction and before transfer to the surrogate, the age restriction under Section 4(iii)(c)(1) of the Act will not apply in these cases,” as per Live Law.

The court added that, although only three couples had approached it, other couples in similar situations could also approach high courts to seek the benefits of this ruling. The court clarified that the judgment does not question the validity of the age bar or the law itself.

Before the 2021 law, there were no age restrictions, and these couples were within the legally acceptable age range. Having frozen their embryos years earlier, they would have otherwise been unable to proceed with surrogacy due to the new age limits.

The Union government opposed the petitions, arguing that age limits protect the welfare of the child, since older parents may not be able to meet the child’s needs. It maintained that the protection should apply only when the embryo is implanted in the surrogate, not at the embryo freezing stage.

The court rejected this argument, noting that the decision to have a child is a personal choice of the couple and involves no third party. “The surrogacy process is considered to have commenced once the couple extracts gametes and freezes the embryo. At this stage, the couple has already expressed their intent to pursue surrogacy, the only remaining step is the involvement of the surrogate mother,” the bench explained.

With Nebraska reporting its first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in dairy cattle last month, officials in three Midwestern states have now confirmed new outbreaks of H5N1 in poultry on commercial farms. While not the first for these states, the latest detections highlight the ongoing presence of the virus. In Iowa, this marks the state’s eighth outbreak in domestic birds this year, and Minnesota has reported eight poultry outbreaks since mid-September.

H5N1 Strikes Poultry Farms Across US

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the latest H5N1 case on October 2. Officials discovered the virus in a commercial turkey flock in west-central Iowa. Iowa’s previous poultry outbreak was recorded in April.

Minnesota reported two outbreaks on September 28 at commercial breeder poultry farms in Becker and Otter Tail Counties, which are adjacent to one another in the state’s west-central region. Together, the two farms house over 36,000 birds, according to the University of Minnesota.

Wisconsin followed with another confirmation on October 1 of H5N1 in a commercial flock in Jefferson County, located between Madison and Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) issued guidance urging all livestock owners to strengthen biosecurity measures to prevent the virus from spreading to their animals.

What Is H5N1?

H5N1 is a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, which primarily infects birds but can also spread to humans and other mammals through close contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. While human-to-human transmission is uncommon, the infection can be severe and has a high mortality rate. The virus has spread worldwide among wild birds and poultry and has recently been detected in mammals, including dairy cows. Health authorities recommend avoiding raw milk and taking protective measures when handling animals, according to the World Health Organization.

Can H5N1 Affect Humans?

Yes, H5N1 can infect humans, causing symptoms such as eye irritation, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal issues. Although transmission between humans is rare, those who have direct contact with infected birds, mammals like dairy cows, or contaminated environments are at higher risk, per WHO guidelines.

How Humans Get Infected

• Contact with infected animals: Handling sick or deceased poultry, wild birds, or dairy cows can lead to infection.
• Contaminated surfaces: Touching surfaces contaminated with virus-containing fluids from infected birds or animals and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Contaminated food: Consuming raw milk from infected cows or other foods contaminated with the live virus.

Is Bird Flu Contagious?

Bird flu rarely spreads from person to person. While a few cases of human-to-human transmission have been documented, none occurred in the U.S. Nearly all human infections so far have resulted from direct contact with infected animals. Still, any human infection carries a risk that the virus could mutate and spread more easily between people.

Advanced DNA sequencing and innovative stem cell research have allowed an international team of scientists to identify a new form of diabetes that affects infants. This rare type of diabetes can appear in babies under six months old, causing symptoms such as fatigue, poor weight gain, and excessive thirst. Using cutting-edge DNA sequencing and a novel stem cell model, researchers from the University of Exeter in the UK and Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) pinpointed mutations in the TMEM167A gene, which is linked to this uncommon form of neonatal diabetes. Let’s take a closer look at the study.

The Study and Its Findings

Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), the study involved researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School, ULB in Belgium, and other collaborators. They discovered that more than 85% of neonatal diabetes cases registered are associated with a genetic mutation. Advanced DNA sequencing and the new stem cell model enabled the team to identify alterations in the TMEM167A gene, which is responsible for this rare condition in infants.

Role of TMEM167A Gene

Investigating how this gene influences diabetes in babies under six months, Professor Miriam Cnop and her team at ULB found that when the TMEM167A gene is altered, insulin-producing cells fail to function properly. This triggers cellular stress mechanisms that can even lead to cell death.

“Identifying the DNA changes behind diabetes in infants gives us a unique window into the genes that are essential for insulin production and secretion. In this collaborative study, pinpointing specific DNA mutations in six children helped us uncover the role of the little-known TMEM167A gene, showing its crucial role in insulin secretion,” explained Dr. Elisa de Franco of the University of Exeter.

What Is Neonatal Diabetes?

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a rare form of diabetes caused by a single gene mutation, showing up within the first six months of a baby’s life. It leads to high blood sugar because the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. In some cases, the condition is permanent, lasting a lifetime, while in others, it may disappear during infancy but could return later in life.

Symptoms of Neonatal Diabetes

According to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, infants under six months with neonatal diabetes may display symptoms such as dehydration, increased hunger, and frequent wet diapers.

How Common Is Neonatal Diabetes?

Neonatal diabetes is an extremely rare condition that appears in babies within the first six months of life. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates it occurs in roughly 1 in every 90,000 to 400,000 births.

Neonatal Diabetes: What Parents Should Keep in Mind

Parents of infants diagnosed with neonatal diabetes should monitor their baby closely for signs of dehydration, unusual fatigue, or poor feeding. Regular medical check-ups and frequent blood sugar monitoring are crucial. It’s also important to maintain a consistent feeding schedule and follow the treatment plan prescribed by pediatric endocrinologists. Early intervention, careful observation, and support from healthcare providers can help manage symptoms and ensure healthier growth and development.