N-acetylcysteine prevents schizophrenia-like symptoms

What is it about?

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is being increasingly studied for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. NAC is an important antioxidant targeting glutathione also acting in glutamatergic mechanisms. In this study, we observed that NAC administration during rat adolescence prevented the development of all symptoms of schizophrenia in females, namely positive, negative and cognitive, while social impairment, working memory deficits and locomotor activity alterations were prevented in both sexes.

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Why is it important?

Sex is an important risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders. In the present study, we are showing, as far as we know for the first time, that male and female rats are distinctly prevented of the development of schizophrenia symptoms. This is of great importance for precision medicine in psychiatry.

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