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‹ Thu · 30 Apr 2026
Promising but preliminary

Efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine in patients with mild cognitive impairment undergoing exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program: a randomized controlled trial

Adding an inexpensive antioxidant to heart-rehab exercise may enhance memory recovery in people with mild cognitive impairment, combining two affordable approaches.

This CIHR-funded RCT from Sunnybrook Research Institute investigates whether N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant targeting oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, augments cognitive benefits of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The combination approach targets both vascular and metabolic mechanisms of cognitive decline, potentially offering a low-cost adjunctive strategy for a highly prevalent at-risk population.

What the study was

Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Population
Adults with mild cognitive impairment undergoing exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation
Category
Prevention
Maturity
Validated
Journal
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy

Why it surfaced

RCT design; addresses unmet need in MCI prevention/treatment; novel combination of antioxidant therapy with exercise rehabilitation; CIHR-funded high-quality Canadian trial.

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