Evidence supporting the use of: N-Acetyl Cysteine
For the health condition: Parkinson's Disease

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) has been investigated as a potential adjunct therapy in Parkinson's Disease (PD) due to its antioxidant properties and its role as a precursor to glutathione, a critical brain antioxidant whose levels are often reduced in PD patients. Scientific interest in NAC for PD is based on the hypothesis that oxidative stress contributes to the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD. A small number of clinical studies and preclinical research have explored this hypothesis.

A pilot clinical trial (Monti et al., 2016, PLOS One) found that NAC administered both orally and intravenously led to increased dopamine transporter binding as measured by DaTscan and showed some improvement in clinical symptoms in PD patients compared to controls. Additionally, animal studies have shown that NAC can protect dopaminergic neurons from oxidative damage. However, the evidence base is still limited: studies are generally small, short-term, and may not be fully blinded or controlled. There is not yet robust, large-scale clinical trial data confirming efficacy or long-term safety in PD.

In summary, while there is a plausible scientific rationale and some early supportive data, the use of NAC for Parkinson’s Disease is not yet established as standard care and should be considered investigational. The current evidence supporting its use is preliminary and rates as low to moderate (2 out of 5).

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