In 2025, a total of 47,394 children were prescribed 150,026 doses of leucovorin. This marks a significant uptick in prescriptions, skyrocketing from 734 to 5,858 weekly, which is a massive 700% increase. Children aged 6 to 11 in the southern U.S. received the highest number of prescriptions compared to other regions. However, researchers noted that there were no changes in leucovorin prescriptions among adults.
“Our findings highlight how the federal government can impact medical practices,” Chua remarked. “With this influence, it’s essential for government messaging about medications to be founded on solid evidence.”
‘Distracting and confusing’
Members of the autism community have expressed concerns that promoting leucovorin as a treatment for autism could be detrimental.
“This raises significant issues. The main one being we rely on our government to be a trustworthy guide, connecting families to scientific evidence and directing them towards the best options for children,” Zoe Gross, director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, explained to CIDRAP News.
“This isn’t it,” she continued. “It’s promoting a random treatment that likely doesn’t work.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that further research is necessary to determine who might gain from leucovorin and its safety and effectiveness.
“When the administration made that recommendation, the supporting evidence was insufficient,” Gross pointed out. Notably, in February 2026, the largest study on leucovorin and autism was retracted. “In fact, the evidence now is even weaker.”
Gross argues that the federal government should concentrate on enhancing services for autistic individuals throughout their lives. The One Big Beautiful Bill deeply reduced funding for Medicaid and community-based services, which are crucial for many autistic individuals to live independently.
“These services cater to people of all ages,” Gross explained. “They assist those who need help with daily living activities, which includes many autistic individuals. For numerous people, these services can mean the difference between choosing where to live and being compelled to reside in an institution.”
She added that the administration’s focus on autism has led to considerable confusion.
“It’s misleading for anyone, especially new parents trying to make choices about their children’s vaccinations, particularly when they’re misled into believing that vaccines might lead to autism, despite that not being true,” Gross noted. “It’s concerning for parents of autistic children who are now, in a sense, being blamed for their children’s autism while being directed towards ineffective treatments.”
