Up to 76% of children with autism may actually have an autoimmune disorder which blocks uptake of folate into the brain, leading to a cerebral deficiency Autistic children were 19 times more likely to test positive for folate receptor alpha antibodies, which bind with and block folate receptors at the blood-brain-barrier These children had normal blood results, but very low levels in cerebrospinal fluid Treatment with a specialized folate supplement, calcium folinate/folinic acid (aka Leucovorin), led to improvement in ~65% of autistic children studied Standard testing is useless because blood levels of folate show up as normal, but the brain is deficient Ordinary folate supplements (folic acid, methylfolate) are ineffective because their transport system is blocked Calcium folinate, on the other hand, works by penetrating the brain via alternative transporters (reduced folate carriers) to effectively restore folate levels However it must be taken in extremely high doses to achieve this effect. Leading physicians are using approx. 2mg/kg body weight. Refs: PMID: 38392599 PMID: 38248763 PMID: 34834493 PMID: 32892962