Longevity & AgingN-Acetylcysteine Shifts Brain Connectivity and Glucose Metabolism in Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) damages the brain through both inflammation and oxidative stress, yet most approved drugs target only inflammation. A small randomized trial from Thomas Jefferson University tested N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant that raises brain glutathione, in 36 people with mild to moderate MS. Half received weekly intravenous NAC plus oral NAC twice daily on top of standard care, and half received standard care alone. Functional MRI showed altered connectivity in the inferior frontal region, cerebellum, and parts of the temporal and parietal lobes in the NAC group. PET scans showed matching increases in glucose metabolism in several of those areas. Participants' self-reported improvements in cognition and attention tracked with these brain changes. The results are early and come from a small trial, but they suggest that targeting oxidative stress may complement existing MS treatments and protect brain function.
