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Rapamycin, found in the 1970s, is an antibiotic prescribed to prevent organ transplant rejection
Dr Janel Le Belle, a neurologist also involved in the study, added: ‘These results reframe how autism-associated symptoms might be treated.
‘If the adult brain remains capable of functional normalization, then some features of autism may be successfully addressed without needing to correct underlying structural differences.’
Researchers warned that taking rapamycin raises the risk of numerous side effects.
Common side effects of the medication include high blood pressure, kidney injury, infections and unusual bruising or swelling on the ankles, hands or feet.
In serious cases, it has also been linked to blood clotting problems, lung problems and slow wound healing.
Biohacker Bryan Johnson, 48, stopped using the drug last year, after five years of taking the medication in an attempt to expand his lifespan.
He said the risks outweighed the benefits, adding it had likely caused him to suffer from skin infections, a higher resting heart rate and reduced blood sugar sensitivity.
There is no cure for autism, but researchers are researching numerous drugs that they believe may help to ease the condition.
Scientists are also testing leucovorin, a form of vitamin B, as a potential treatment after it was touted by Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Junior.
Most commonly used to counteract the toxic effects of certain chemotherapies, some experts say it may treat some forms of autism that have been linked to low folate levels, a type of vitamin B needed for healthy cell growth and function.
A study published in May this year warned that use of the vitamin had surged amid the publication of high-profile cases suggesting it could benefit autism.
