Monitoring Patients With Repetitive Head Impact With Gamma-glutamylcysteine Supplementation

This study is designed to evaluate the effects of GGC supplementation in patients with a history of repetitive head impacts (RHI) who are at risk for developing Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES). The trial will include specific individuals who satisfy the eligibility criteria.

Inclusion criteria

• Retired NFL player, retired Navy SEAL/army personnel with combat experience exposed to repetitive head impact;
• Memory and behavioral complaint per self- or informant-report;
• Age (30 to 70 years of age) years;
• Able to read and write in English and to give consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments in the eyes, skin, or body.
• Subjects with claustrophobia.
• Subject with mild cognitive impairment [TICS score of 29 or lower OR >=1.0 standard deviations below age-expectation on at least two cognitive members within the same cognitive domain (e.g. memory, attention, etc.) on the baseline neuropsychological testing;
• Subjects with a history of cancer;
• Subjects with active psychosis or delirium;
• Subjects with chronic kidney (creatinine > 1.5mg/dL) or liver disease (AST ≥ 1.5 ULN; ALT ≥1.5 ULN) within 30 days prior to enrollment;
• Subjects on antioxidant therapy (gingko biloba or N-acetylcysteine) or illicit drug abuse/dependence (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or fentanyl;
• Repeated head injury patients with neurosurgical intervention and;
• Subjects with repeated head injury within the last 90 days.