Something remarkable, and controversial, is unfolding in American medicine. The Food and Drug Administration says it is fast-tracking leucovorin , a long-established drug, for potential use in treating cerebral folate deficiency , a condition connected to the presence of folate receptor autoantibodies estimated to be present in up to 76% of children diagnosed with autism. Like many parents of children with autism for whom there are no other treatment options, I had asked my child’s physician about prescribing leucovorin off-label after hearing about it on Facebook groups and other social media.

The excitement surrounding leucovorin, or folinic acid, isn’t unfounded. Small clinical studies have shown improvements in language, communication, and adaptive behavior among children with a

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