The study did not measure whether NAC improves thinking skills or memory in stroke patients, as it only measured stroke severity symptoms.
Scientific Claim
N-acetylcysteine administration did not significantly improve cognitive function in ischemic stroke patients, as the study did not measure cognitive function but instead used NIHSS which assesses stroke severity rather than cognition.
Original Statement
“The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was also calculated before and after 24 h, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after starting the drug. Conclusion: NAC can be promising as a complementary drug and a powerful antioxidant in reducing oxidative stress and improving cognitive function in individuals with stroke.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study did not measure cognitive function at all, so any claim about improving cognitive function is completely unsupported. The conclusion incorrectly states 'improving cognitive function' when only stroke severity (NIHSS) was measured.
More Accurate Statement
“The study did not measure cognitive function in ischemic stroke patients, as it only assessed stroke severity using the NIHSS scale.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
Investigation of the effect of N-acetylcysteine on serum levels of oxidative inflammatory biomarkers in patients with stroke