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Parents say son with autism was nonverbal until trying an off-label drug that treats chemo side effects (www.cbsnews.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Summary

Mason Connor, diagnosed with autism at 2.5 years old, was nonverbal until his parents discovered leucovorin, a folic acid-based drug used to counter chemotherapy side effects.

Within days of taking it, Mason spoke his first words. Dr. Richard Frye, a pediatric neurologist, believes leucovorin can help many autistic children but lacks FDA approval due to low profitability.

Nonprofit Every Cure advocates for repurposing existing drugs for new treatments.

Mason, now 5, is set to start mainstream kindergarten.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

Autism is a bit of a catch all term for a cluster of symptoms. Some of those can be treated, others can't, still overs are beneficial.

Depending on the aspie your talking to/about their views on treatment vary wildly. I'm personally a high functioning aspie. The downsides are a pain in the arse, and if I could take them away with a pill, I would. However, many of the downsides are tied to the good sides. If treatment would take both, I would refuse it. Too much of what I like about myself goes through it.

There's also a bit of a sore point with groups like "autism speaks". They claim to talk for autistic people. In fact they represent the parents at best. They often talk against what actual autistic people want. They often talk a lot about "treatments" which are just a way to keep kids quiet and out of the way, to make parents lives easier, rather than helping them cope with life themselves.