We’re a long way away from conclusive evidence that leucovorin is safe, effective, or ready for wide-scale use. Fast-tracking FDA approval based on this shaky foundation is not responsible public policy. It’s yet another example of rushed endorsements of treatments (hello, ivermectin) that ultimately undermines trust in medical systems. We’re seeing a familiar pattern: quick fixes for complex conditions.
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Autism has a long history of being used to sell “miracle” treatments and supposed cures. Families who are understandably desperate for help have been targeted for decades by marketers and politicians offering simple solutions to complex realities.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, diagnosed based on differences in social interaction, communication and behaviour, but most children with autism also have overlapping support needs. These include cognitive challenges, anxiety, attention differences and sensory processing issues. What helps these children and families isn’t pseudoscience or political proclamations, but evidence-based early intervention that improves long-term outcomes for children, supports families, and reduces future healthcare and social costs.
Good quality early intervention improves academic outcomes, social-emotional development and family wellbeing. It reduces mental health risks and self-esteem down the line and delivers excellent return on investment – not just economically, but socially.
The frustrating truth for researchers like me is that autism research has been chronically underfunded, creating a vacuum where misinformation thrives. If governments truly want to help children and families, they need to fund robust scientific research, not chase headlines or prop up half-tested treatments. They need to invest in interventions that give every child the best chance to thrive, rather than laying blame on mothers or pinning hopes on unproven theories.
As we’ve seen before, autism is too often used as a punching bag, but it should be politically off-limits. It’s a real, complex condition that requires serious policy, funding and care.
At the end of the day, science matters. It matters for women trying to manage their health during pregnancy, for families navigating an autism diagnosis. For every policymaker, doctor, and voter. Misinformation may win headlines. But only evidence will deliver real change.
Professor Adam Guastella is an expert in autism and the Chair of Child and Youth Mental Health at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre.
