The Trump Administration’s Unintended Autism Experiment
Parents are desperate to get leucovorin for their children, but promised help has not arrived.
TL;DR
- President Trump falsely blamed Tylenol for autism and promoted leucovorin as a treatment during a press conference.
- The theory behind leucovorin is that it bypasses antibodies that prevent folate from reaching the brain in autistic children.
- Mainstream autism scientists remain skeptical due to limited clinical evidence and the lack of large, randomized trials.
- The FDA's plan to make leucovorin more accessible focused on a rare genetic condition, not autism.
- Parents are seeking leucovorin off-label, facing challenges in obtaining prescriptions and the drug due to supply issues and doctor reluctance.
- Online communities of parents are sharing experiences and advice on using leucovorin, with some reporting positive outcomes and others negative or no changes.
- A long-time prescriber of leucovorin, Dr. Richard Frye, has seen a surge in demand, with a long waiting list for new patients.