Could Folate Deficiency Be Affecting the Brain? Here’s What to Know
There’s been a lot of exciting news lately about leucovorin (folinic acid) and its potential to help children with autism. Recently, this administration approved leucovorin for cerebral folate deficiency and for autism associated with it, an important step forward for families and clinicians alike.
Folinic acid is the naturally active form of folic acid (vitamin B9). Many children with autism have cerebral folate deficiency, where folate levels in the brain are low despite being normal in the blood. This can happen when antibodies block folate from entering the brain, leading to symptoms such as:
Developmental delays or regression (loss of language or motor skills)
Seizures
Sleep disturbances
Agitation or behavioral changes
Memory problems
Another common factor is a methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation, which affects the body’s ability to activate folate. This can also contribute to low brain folate levels and is linked to several conditions including:
🧠 Autism and ADHD
💔 Cardiovascular disease
🧬 Depression and dementia
🤰 Pregnancy complications
Testing is available for both MTHFR mutations and folate receptor antibodies. If results indicate a deficiency, treatment with activated forms of folate, leucovorin (folinic acid) or methylfolate, can often help restore balance.
With rising rates of autism, ADHD, and anxiety, evaluating for these underlying metabolic factors may provide important answers for both children and adults.
In the autism community, we’ve known about the benefits of these active folate forms for many years, and it’s encouraging to see this gaining broader recognition.
If you’d like to discuss whether testing or treatment might be right for you or your child, you can schedule a phone meet & greet here: