() A former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the autism rate in the world has increased significantly.

“I believe this indicates the presence of environmental influences,” Dr. Robert Redfield expressed to “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on Monday, following President Trump’s updated guidance on Tylenol usage for expectant mothers.

“Previously, the idea that the issue was purely genetic didn’t hold up when we observed the rise in cases, such as from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100, or even 1 in 30 – those numbers don’t likely point to genetics,” Redfield elaborated.

Trump discourages Tylenol for pregnant women due to potential link to autism

At a Monday news briefing, Trump advised against pregnant women using Tylenol, citing the need for further research to determine any potential connection between this medication and a heightened risk of autism.

Tylenol, whose active ingredient is acetaminophen, is a common pain reliever that doctors have long considered safe to use during pregnancy.

Redfield, whom Trump appointed to lead the CDC, concurred with the President’s statement, acknowledging the data indicating a possible association.

“In the medical field, there can be a reluctance to revise prior recommendations, especially when they might have been incorrect,” he noted. “Given the current data, the prudent approach is to advise against the use of Tylenol during pregnancy.”

Autism diagnoses on the rise

Autism diagnoses have increased over the years, a challenge Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called an “epidemic.”

The CDC’s most recent findings indicate that 3.2% of 8-year-old children, or around 1 in 31, were diagnosed with autism in 2022 across 16 participating communities from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. This is an increase from the earlier estimate of 1 in 36 in 2020, and dramatically up from 1 in 150 back in 2000.

Redfield feels the focus on autism brings more “transparency” for those who need it.

“I’m happy to see HHS and our government when they have new information, actually put it out to the public so that the public can evaluate whether it means to them rather than somehow feel that they have to be the secret arbiters of this data until they want to let it out,” he said.

Researchers largely attribute the rise to two main factors: a broader definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder and more widespread screening.