The Promise of N-Acetylcysteine in Neuropsychiatry
Review The promise of N-acetylcysteine in neuropsychiatry 1,2,3,4 5,6 1 1,2,4 Michael Berk , Gin S. Malhi , Laura J. Gray , and Olivia M. Dean 1 School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia 2 Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 3 Orygen Research Centre, Parkville, Victoria, Australia 4 The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Victoria, Australia 5 Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia 6 CADE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Level 5 Building 36, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, 2065, Australia N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) targets a diverse array of factors with the pathophysiology of a diverse range of neuropsy- germane to the pathophysiology of multiple neuropsy- chiatric disorders, including autism, addiction, depression, chiatric disorders including glutamatergic transmission, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s and Par- the antioxidant glutathione, neurotrophins, apoptosis, kinson’s diseases [3]. Determining precisely how NAC mitochondrial function, and inflammatory pathways. works is crucial both to understanding the core biology This review summarises the areas where the mecha- of these illnesses, and to opening the door to other adjunc- nisms of action of NAC overlap with known pathophysi- tive therapies operating on these pathways. The current ological elements, and offers a pre´ cis of current literature article will initially review the possible mechanisms of regarding the use of NAC in disorders including cocaine, action of NAC, and then critically appraise the evidence cannabis, and smoking addictions, Alzheimer’s and Par- that suggests it has efficacy in the treatment of neuropsy- kinson’s diseases, autism, compulsive and grooming chiatric disorders.
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