Why Do People Believe Vaccines or Tylenol Cause Autism?

It is absolutely not true that vaccines or Tylenol cause autism. Every major health organization and every reputable scientific study demonstrates that autism is not caused by vaccines, Tylenol, or any of the other false claims that continue to circulate. The researcher who first popularized the vaccine–autism myth was discredited and his work retracted. The Tylenol theory is equally unfounded. And yet, thousands of people still latch onto these ideas, often spreading more harm than the medications themselves ever could.

So why do these myths persist? Why is it that someone can look at a blue sky and insist it is red and still find others who agree with them? Here are three reasons:

1. Science as a Way of Knowing

Science isn’t just facts in a textbook - it’s a process. Yet many people haven’t had the chance to really learn how that process works, especially after decades of cuts to science education. Too often, science class becomes about memorizing information or completing projects that look creative but miss the heart of scientific inquiry.

At its core, science is about asking questions, using tools to test them, and ensuring results can be repeated by others. For example, when we say “the sky is blue,” science doesn’t stop at personal opinion. We measure wavelengths of light, compare results across instruments and observers, and confirm findings in ways that don’t rely only on our friends, families, or teachers.

This method of confirming reality is fundamentally different from storytelling or tradition. Both ways of knowing (stories and science) matter, but they serve different purposes. Science helps us understand what is true about the physical world. Stories help us connect, care, and make sense of human experience. Without strong training in the scientific method, though, people are left vulnerable to misinformation that sounds persuasive but isn’t grounded in truth.

2. The Power of Storytelling

Humans are wired for stories. From the earliest days of our species, we passed knowledge through tales of heroes, villains, and victims. Our brains are tuned to recognize these roles, which makes such stories easy to believe.

When someone develops autism, the story often gets cast this way:

• Victim: the child with autism.

• Hero: the parent or community wanting to “save” them.

• Villain: vaccines, Tylenol, or whatever new culprit emerges.

This story pattern is compelling. It gives us a clear path: find the villain, defeat it, and save the victim. But reality is rarely that simple. Autism is complex, not caused by a single villain, and many autistic individuals do not even see themselves as victims. Some describe their neurodivergence as an identity, an adaptation, or even a strength.

When the story gets more complicated - when the “villain” might be genetics, society’s lack of support, or even nothing at all - it doesn’t fit the easy pattern. That makes the truth harder for many to accept.

3. Discomfort With Complexity

Human behavior and neurodevelopment are incredibly complex. There is no easy answer, no single cause, and no magic cure. As a neuroscientist who has spent decades studying psychology, biology, and human behavior, I can tell you this: autism is not the result of one factor. It is the outcome of many interwoven biological and environmental influences.

But easy answers are tempting. Saying “vaccines cause autism” feels more manageable than grappling with the reality that neurodiversity is part of humanity itself. Autism has been described in historical texts for hundreds of years, long before vaccines or Tylenol existed. Our species thrives on cognitive diversity. Different ways of thinking and processing the world have always been part of what makes us human.

When science points to genetics, some parents feel blamed - as though they themselves are the “villain.” That discomfort makes it even easier to look elsewhere for a simpler, less painful story.

Why This Matters

People who believe these myths are often deeply caring. They want to protect their children and communities. But the scientific process is hard to trust when it is poorly taught, when storytelling is more persuasive, and when reality refuses to give us easy villains and heroes.

The hard truth is this: if an answer to a complex question seems too simple, it is almost always wrong.

What we need are better science communicators: people who can translate rigorous research into stories that are clear, relatable, and true. We need to remind ourselves that science is not the enemy; it is the best tool we have for understanding reality.

Autism has always been part of humanity. It is not caused by vaccines, Tylenol, or any other scapegoat. Instead of chasing false villains, let’s put our energy into supporting people with autism, celebrating neurodiversity, and building a world where all different kinds of brains can thrive.

Curious about how to better understand and support neurodivergent people in your own circles? Reach out! I’d love to share more and help you start the conversation.