Acetyl-L-carnitine and α-lipoic acid: possible neurotherapeutic agents for mood disorders?
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mood disorders are associated with decrements in cognitive function, which are insufficiently treated with contemporary pharmacotherapies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the putative neurotherapeutic effects of the mitochondrial cofactors, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and alpha-lipoic acid; and to provide a rationale for investigating their efficacy in the treatment of neurocognitive deficits associated with mood disorders. METHODS: A PubMed search of English-language articles published between January 1966 and March 2007 was conducted using the search terms carnitine and lipoic acid. RESULTS: L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid may offer neurotherapeutic effects (e.g., neurocognitive enhancement) via disparate mechanisms including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulation. Preliminary controlled trials in depressed geriatric populations also suggest an antidepressant effect with acetyl-L-carnitine. CONCLUSIONS: L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid are pleiotropic agents capable of offering neuroprotective and possibly cognitive-enhancing effects for neuropsychiatric disorders in which cognitive deficits are an integral feature.
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Preclinical studies and investigations in individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease provided evidence that alpha lipoic acid may promote neurocognitive enhancement via pleiotropic mechanisms, including antioxidant mitochondrial activity and anti-inflammatory properties.
“Moreover, preclinical studies and investigations in individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease [132] provided evidence that ALA may promote neurocognitive enhancement via pleiotropic mechanisms, including antioxidant mitochondrial activity and anti-inflammatory properties [133]”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [133]
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References 98 · Cited by 23
- Authors
- Soczynska, J. K., Kennedy, S. H., Chow, C. S., Woldeyohannes, H. O., Konarski, J. Z., & McIntyre, R. S.
- Affiliations
- University Health Network (CA)
- Venue
- Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
- Publisher
- Informa Healthcare
- Published
- 2008-05-21
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 827-843
- ISSN
- 1354-3784 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-7658
- OpenAlex
- W2063706444
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 98
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Biochemical Acid Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disorders and Treatments
- Keywords
- acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, L-carnitine, mood disorders, depression, neurocognitive impairment, mitochondrial cofactors, neuroprotection, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antidepressant effects, geriatric depression, cognitive enhancement
- MeSH terms
- Acetylcarnitine, Aged, Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal, Antioxidants, Carnitine, Clinical Trials as Topic, Cognition Disorders, Drug Evaluation, Preclinical, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Immunologic Factors, Thioctic Acid, Male, Middle Aged, Mitochondria, Psychotropic Drugs, Rats, Wistar, Oxidative Stress, Neuroprotective Agents, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Mood Disorders, Mice, Rats
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