A new study led by Michigan Medicine found that prescriptions for leucovorin, a drug sometimes used to treat autism, increased significantly after federal officials promoted it as an effective treatment during a September 2025 press conference. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed prescription data and found a notable spike following the announcement.
Leucovorin is a form of folate that has been studied for autism, but the evidence is not conclusive. The press conference, which was part of a broader federal initiative, suggested the drug could help children with autism, leading to increased demand. However, experts caution that the drug is not approved by the FDA for autism and that more research is needed.
The study's authors emphasize the importance of evidence-based medicine and warn that unproven treatments can lead to unnecessary risks and costs. They call for clearer communication from public health officials to avoid misleading the public.
Parents of children with autism are often desperate for effective treatments, which may explain the rapid uptake. The study highlights the need for rigorous clinical trials to determine whether leucovorin is truly beneficial for autism symptoms.
