Women who are pregnant and families considering new therapies for autism should always consult with their doctor.
While some observational studies have suggested possible associations between Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen) and autism, it is important to note that they have not – to date – proven causation, which we know to be influenced by many other factors such as genetics, parental health and environment.
As highlighted in today’s announcement, leucovorin shows promise in improving speech in minimally verbal children. However, larger, well-controlled clinical trials are still needed to confirm its efficacy and safety as a therapeutic treatment.
At Autism Speaks, we have been encouraged by the recent, increased focus on autism and have consistently advocated for substantive spending on the research and services needed to improve the lives of autistic people. We acknowledge today’s commitment and the investment being directed toward further research and resources, and express our sincere hope that these efforts will translate into true, improved quality of life for those with autism.
We urge the Administration’s resources be dedicated toward advancing new and innovative areas of research, so the community benefits from fresh insights, rather than revisiting questions that have been well studied, including vaccines and autism. We look forward to continuing our bipartisan work and supporting public officials, as well as the medical and scientific communities in their efforts to improve the lives of those on the spectrum.
