N-acetylcysteine and mindfulness to help mild depression in teens
Official title: Prefrontal glutamatergic modulation by N-acetylcysteine and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for mild depression in youth
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11322058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see whether the supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can reduce mild depression symptoms in teens and young adults (ages 12–20).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | April 17, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $706,857 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT013115-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults (about 12–20 years old) with mild depressive symptoms, including those with a first-degree relative with bipolar disorder.
✕Less likely to help
People with moderate-to-severe depression, urgent psychiatric needs, or those outside the eligible age range may not receive benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to take NAC or a placebo and to receive mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or not over an eight-week period, with neither you nor the team knowing the pill assignment. The trial is double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-arm, and runs in parallel groups to compare effects of the treatments. Participants will have brain scans including proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and resting-state fMRI to measure prefrontal glutamate signaling and brain network integration. The team is recruiting adolescents and young adults with mild depression, including those at familial risk for bipolar disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, NAC and mindfulness could reduce depression symptoms in teens while avoiding some side effects linked to standard antidepressants.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier small studies and preliminary data suggest NAC and mindfulness can improve mood and brain function in at-risk youth, but a rigorously controlled multi-arm trial like this is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nery, Fabiano G. — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Nery, Fabiano G.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.