The Trump administration is poised to release a nationwide health advisory that cautions pregnant women against the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) following a federal review that linked the common pain reliever to an increased risk of autism in children. Concurrently, officials are endorsing leucovorin, a lesser-known medication, as a prospective treatment for individuals with autism, marking a potential shift in the management of the disorder.
This forthcoming guidance stems from an extensive federal review aimed at uncovering the underlying factors behind the rising autism diagnosis rates in the United States. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of autism has surged, with federal data showing an increase from one in 150 children in 2000 to approximately one in 31 children in 2025. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the effort, which also examines environmental influences, food, pesticides, and vaccines as potential contributing factors.
At an event organized by the American Cornerstone Institute, President Trump hinted at the significance of this announcement, emphasizing its potential impact on public health. The announcement, which is expected to draw considerable attention, was previewed by Trump as "one of the most important things that we will do."
Leucovorin, the proposed alternative, has shown promising results in improving symptoms in children with autism. Physicians report substantial progress, including cases where nonverbal children began speaking in full sentences after starting on the drug. Priced at only $2.50 per pill, leucovorin offers a cost-effective solution compared to traditional therapies and is already FDA-approved for mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy. It is prescribed "off-label" for other conditions, allowing for its use in treating autism despite the lack of formal FDA approval for this specific indication.
Dr. Richard Frye, an Arizona-based physician who has extensively researched leucovorin's impact on autism, regards the drug as one of the "best kept secrets" in modern medicine. He has observed significant vocabulary development in treated children within a few months. Frye attributes the drug's efficacy to its role in folate metabolism in the brain, as many children with autism exhibit insufficient folate delivery to this critical organ.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is also set to unveil its autism data science initiative, featuring 13 research teams backed by federal grants to explore causes and treatments of autism and to verify previous scientific findings. However, the NIH's separate federal review on autism, overseen by Kennedy, will not be released simultaneously, as it undergoes a more thorough examination before public disclosure.
With the endorsement of leucovorin and the caution against Tylenol during pregnancy, the Trump administration reaffirms its commitment to addressing autism with what White House spokesman Kush Desai calls "Gold Standard Science." This approach could potentially herald a new era in autism treatment and prevention, offering hope to affected families and the broader medical community.
