Parents: Leucovorin helped nonverbal autistic son speak
A CBS News report profiles U.S. parents who say their son — previously nonverbal and diagnosed with autism — began speaking after an off‑label course of leucovorin (folinic acid). The piece summarizes the scientific rationale (cerebral folate deficiency and folate‑receptor alpha autoantibodies), quotes Dr. Richard Frye (a U.S. researcher conducting trials), cites multiple blinded and randomized studies reporting speech benefits, and notes ongoing NIH funding and trial‑design questions.
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Parents say son with autism was nonverbal until trying an off-label drug
New information:
- Parents say their son Mason, diagnosed with autism at 2½, was nonverbal until receiving off‑label leucovorin (folinic acid).
- The article cites three randomized controlled trials (and five blinded controlled studies total) that reported positive effects on speech in some children with autism.
- Research background: one study found >75% of children with autism had FRα autoantibodies versus 10–15% in healthy controls; leucovorin can bypass a proposed folate‑transport blockage into the brain.
- Named entities involved: Dr. Richard Frye (researcher), Dr. Vincent Ramaekers and Dr. Edward Quadros (scientists linked to cerebral folate deficiency research), and the NIH Autism Data Science Initiative (noted funding context).
- Current evidence level: mostly phase 2B studies; experts say phase 3, placebo‑controlled trials are needed to determine dosing, timing and which children benefit.