Cysteamine is a prescription drug, approved for treating cystinosis
-it is not sold over-the-counter as a dietary supplement.
-In contrast, related compounds like N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and pantethine are widely available supplements and can indirectly support cysteamine-related pathways (e.g., antioxidant defenses and CoA metabolism).
-Pantethine: Precursor to CoA, which breaks down into cysteamine
-Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): Required for CoA synthesis
-Cysteamine increases glutathione (GSH) levels, reducing oxidative stress, a major contributor to AD pathology.
-Some studies suggest that cysteamine increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels
-Cysteamine has been observed to reduce amyloid plaque burden in animal models of AD.