AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS)

N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC)

Animal Study

1. Daily doses of N-acetylcysteine (1% concentration) in drinking water reduced oxidative damage associated with the advancement of ALS in mice. Treatment extended their survival and postponed development of motor impairment symptoms as compared to the control group.

Neuroreport 2000 Aug 3;11(11):2491-3
N-acetyl-L-cysteine improves survival and preserves motor performance in an animal model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Andreassen OA, Dedeoglu A, Klivenyi P, Beal MF, Bush AI.

Animal Study

2. Daily doses of N-acetylcysteine (1% concentration) in drinking water for 9 weeks resulted in a decrease in motor neuron loss, increased function in limbs and increased muscle mass in mice with ALS-like symptoms as compared to the control group.

Reduction of lower motor neuron degeneration in wobbler mice by N-acetyl-L-cysteine.
Henderson JT, Javaheri M, Kopko S, Roder JC.
J Neurosci 1996 Dec 1;16(23):7574-82