N-acetylcysteine Clinical Applications Oct 2024 - cureus.com/articles/311141-...
"Neurological Disorders
NAC appears to be protective against neurodegenerative illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis (MS). It may be useful as an adjuvant for these illnesses since it is a glutathione precursor with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects [17,18].
Alzheimer's disease: NAC has been investigated in certain mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, and these investigations showed evidence that NAC treatment reduces oxidative damage in Alzheimer's disease [19,20]. Adair et al. [21] used NAC in a blinded placebo-controlled experiment in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. NAC therapy did not affect the key outcome indicators in people with clinically confirmed Alzheimer's disease. However, the findings may promote further research into NAC in Alzheimer's disease.
Parkinson’s disease: Dopamine may cause apoptosis in neuronal cell cultures, resulting in the loss of nigral cells in Parkinson's disease. Thiol-containing drugs, such as NAC, are very protective in cell cultures by reducing dopamine-induced cell death [22]. Over three months, a clinical study employing NAC as a weekly intravenous infusion and 500 mg orally twice a day dramatically reduced Parkinson's symptoms and enhanced dopamine binding in the brain, warranting additional research [23].
Multiple sclerosis: NAC reduces tumour necrosis factor toxicity, and in an animal model of multiple sclerosis, it prevents the development of multiple sclerosis-like pathology [24]. Ten multiple sclerosis patients were given NAC treatment for up to 16 months. Due to the relapsing-remitting nature of many MS patients, determining the effectiveness of NAC in a small sample without contemporaneous controls is problematic. However, two MS patients with a lengthy history of difficulties speaking had a very substantial improvement in their speech immediately after beginning to use NAC. Controlled studies are required to determine whether NAC can reduce the amount of MS exacerbations [25].
Stroke: Acrolein-mediated damage after stroke has been linked to stroke size in animal studies, and NAC has been demonstrated to diminish infarct size [26]. A recent randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial employing NAC 4 grams four times a day for 72 hours in the beginning (within 24 hours) of an ischemic stroke resulted in an improved outcome profile in both neurological impairment and disability at 90 days [27]."
(I take 1200 mg a day)