03/10/2025
from my friends at Aspire Nutrition.
Multiple studies—from the US, France, India, and China—have shown that kids with autism and folate receptor autoantibodies who took leucovorin experienced:
Significant improvements in verbal communication (some nonverbal kids started speaking)
Better social interaction and eye contact
Reduced irritability and behavioral outbursts
Improved attention and focus
In some cases, better seizure control
Is this a cure for autism?
No. Will it work the same for everybody?
Absolutely not.
But can it be a life-changing intervention for some kids?
The data says yes.
And the FDA recently took the unusual step of recognizing leucovorin for treating folate-related autism symptoms...which is a huge deal.
Now here's the problem...
Leucovorin is a prescription drug.
And it's been notoriously hard to get doctors to prescribe it for autism because it's technically an "off-label" use.
That's changing now...but slowly.
So if you're interested in exploring this, here's what I'd recommend:
Step 1: Talk to your doctor about testing for folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAA). This blood test can tell you if your child's folate transport system is blocked.
Step 2: If the test comes back positive (or if your child has signs like speech regression, seizures, or severe developmental delays), ask your doctor about leucovorin.
Step 3: In the meantime, do everything in your power to avoid synthetic folic acid, which is found in most sports drinks, energy drinks, cheap multivitamins, and fortified foods (think grains, bread, and cereals)