Most people have experienced heartburn, stomachaches, constipation or diarrhea at some point in their life. These gastrointestinal issues (GI) can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Autistic people are more likely to have GI issues compared to non-autistic people. Research has shown that up to 91% of autistic people have GI issues. The reason they have more issues can be broken down into 3 categories: issues in the gut, issues in the brain, and diet.
Recently, you may have heard about a medicine being used to treat autism called leucovorin. Leucovorin is not a new medicine, and doctors have used it for decades. At the beginning of the year (2026) though, leucovorin got a lot of attention because some doctors were using it as an off-label treatment for autism. In March, it was approved by the FDA to treat a disease called “Cerebral Folate Deficiency.”
Early diagnosis for autistic children is crucial to allow earlier intervention, which can truly make a lifelong difference. For example, with early diagnosis, children can begin therapies, be better understood by their caregivers and families, and develop communication and social skills to improve their overall success. When children are diagnosed earlier, they receive support sooner, leading to better outcomes later in life.
We don’t just talk with words — we also "talk" with our faces, hands, and how we move. This is called body language or nonverbal communication. It helps us connect and understand each other. For autistic people, body language can look a little different.
Autistic people who are very sensitive to food textures might eat a lot of "ultra-processed foods." Ultra-processed foods are foods that have been significantly changed from their original form by undergoing extensive industrial food processing.
