Journal article
Effects of N-acetyl cysteine on cognitive function in bipolar disorder
OM Dean, AI Bush, DL Copolov, K Kohlmann, S Jeavons, I Schapkaitz, M Anderson-Hunt, M Berk
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences | Published : 2012
Abstract
Aims Bipolar disorder is characterized by progressive changes in cognition with declines in executive functioning, memory and sustained attention. Current pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorder target mood symptoms but have not addressed these cognitive changes resulting in euthymic individuals who still experience cognitive deficits. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) has been shown to have effects on antioxidant status, glutamate transmission, inflammation and neurogenesis. Adjunctive treatment with NAC improves the symptoms experienced by those with bipolar disorder, particularly depression, and it was hypothesized that cognition may also be improved following NAC treatment. Methods As part of a lar..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Professor Berk has received research support from NIH, Simons Autism Foundation, Cancer Council of Victoria, Stanley Medical Research Foundation, MBF, NHMRC, Beyond Blue, Geelong Medical Research Foundation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Organon, Novartis, Mayne Pharma and Servier; has been a speaker for Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi Synthelabo, Servier, Solvay and Wyeth; and served as a consultant to Astra Zeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck and Servier. Dr Bush is a shareholder and consultant for Prana Biotechnology Ltd, and a shareholder of Cogstate Ltd. Dr Dean has received grant or research support from Simons Autism Foundation, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Lilly, NHMRC and an ASBD/Servier grant. Professors Berk, Copolov and Bush are co-inventors on two provisional patents regarding the use of NAC and related compounds for psychiatric indications, assigned to the Mental Health Research Institute. Drs Jeavons, Schapkaitz, Anderson-Hunt and Ms Kohlmann have no biomedical financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. The authors would like to acknowledge support from Barwon Health, the Bendigo Health Care Group and the Mental Health Research Institute.