Recent clinical research from UT Southwestern Medical Center has revealed that tiny gold nanoparticles may help restore the brain’s energy system in people living with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. In phase two trials, an oral suspension of faceted gold nanocrystals improved key brain energy markers and showed encouraging functional gains, all with a strong safety profile.
This work, published in the peer reviewed Journal of Nanobiotechnology, suggests that gold nanomedicine could become a powerful new tool in the fight against neurodegenerative disease.
Why Neurodegenerative Diseases Drain Brain Energy
Conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease share a common problem, even though they look very different on the surface. In both cases, neurons gradually lose their ability to produce and use energy efficiently. Over time, this energy failure leads to impaired nerve signalling, loss of function, and eventually cell death.
Scientists often track this through the ratio of NAD plus to NADH inside cells. NAD plus is a central molecule for mitochondrial energy production. When the NAD plus to NADH ratio drops, mitochondria struggle to produce enough ATP, the body’s main energy currency. In neurodegenerative disease, this decline in NAD plus happens faster and more severely than in healthy brains.
Research in animal and cell models has shown that:
- Lower NAD plus levels are linked with faster neurodegeneration and poorer brain repair.
- Supporting NAD plus can protect neurons from damage and improve resilience.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction appears long before obvious disability, which makes it a powerful early target for therapy.
The question for researchers has been simple but challenging. Can we safely repair the brain’s energy system in people who already have MS or Parkinson’s disease, and can we see those changes directly in the brain?
What Makes These Gold Nanoparticles Special
The gold used in the UT Southwestern trials is not standard metallic gold and not a generic supplement. It is a specific investigational nanomedicine called CNM Au8, developed by Clene Nanomedicine.
CNM Au8 is:
- A suspension of clean surfaced, faceted gold nanocrystals in a water based buffer.
- Manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, with tightly controlled size and purity.
- Designed to act as a catalyst that supports cellular redox balance and improves the NAD plus to NADH ratio.
- Non ionic and chemically inert, so it does not work by releasing gold ions into the body.
Preclinical studies have shown that these gold nanocrystals can:
- Increase neuronal metabolic energy and ATP production.
- Reduce oxidative stress inside brain cells.
- Support protein homeostasis and help cells cope with misfolded proteins.
- Promote remyelination in animal models of demyelinating disease.
With this foundation, researchers at UT Southwestern and Clene Nanomedicine moved into human trials to test whether CNM Au8 could improve brain energy metabolism in people already diagnosed with MS and Parkinson’s disease.
Inside the REPAIR MS and REPAIR PD Clinical Trials
The REPAIR clinical trial program included two sister phase two studies, REPAIR MS and REPAIR PD. Both trials were designed to answer two key questions:
- Can oral CNM Au8 improve brain energy metabolites, as measured non invasively in living patients?
- Is the treatment safe and well tolerated over at least twelve weeks of daily use?
In total, twenty four adults took part in the imaging analysis.
The MS group
- Eleven participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis.
- Stable disease on existing therapies.
- Mild to moderate disability at baseline.
The Parkinson’s group
- Thirteen participants with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
- Early to mid stage, Hoehn and Yahr stages one to two.
- On standard Parkinson’s medications.
All participants continued their usual treatments. CNM Au8 was added as an oral liquid taken once daily for at least twelve weeks at doses between 15 mg and 30 mg. Before and after this period, each volunteer underwent high field 7 Tesla phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy, also called 31P MRS, a sophisticated scanning method that can measure energy related molecules inside the brain.
What the Brain Scans Revealed
Unlike regular MRI, which creates structural images, 31P MRS looks at the chemistry of living tissue. In these trials, the researchers measured:
- NAD plus and NADH.
- ATP, the main energy carrier in cells.
- Phosphocreatine, a key energy reserve molecule.
- Total creatine.
- Magnesium bound ATP.
- Intracellular pH.
The results were striking for a relatively small, early phase study.
Improved NAD plus to NADH ratio
Across the combined MS and Parkinson’s groups, the mean NAD plus to NADH ratio increased by about 10.4 percent after twelve or more weeks of CNM Au8 therapy compared with baseline. In other words, the brain’s ability to maintain a healthy energetic balance improved measurably during the treatment period.
Restoration of ATP and energetic reserves
ATP levels moved back toward group norms, and markers such as phosphocreatine also showed improvement. These changes suggest that mitochondria were working more efficiently and that brain cells had more energetic reserve to draw on when needed.
Functional gains in Parkinson’s participants
Although the trials were primarily designed to show metabolic effects rather than full clinical outcomes, Parkinson’s participants were also evaluated with a standard rating scale for daily motor function. Several individuals reported better ease of movement, reduced stiffness, and smoother performance of everyday tasks. These early functional signals align with the observed shifts in brain energy metabolism.
Safety and Tolerability
Safety is crucial whenever a new therapeutic concept reaches human testing. According to the published data, CNM Au8 was well tolerated in both MS and Parkinson’s groups.
Across the combined cohort:
- No serious adverse events were attributed to CNM Au8.
- No organ toxicity signals were detected.
- No severe allergic responses were reported.
- Mild side effects, such as transient headaches, were rare and resolved without complications.
This safety profile is especially important in chronic conditions, where patients may need long term therapy for many years.
What Leading Researchers Are Saying
The authors of the Journal of Nanobiotechnology paper described CNM Au8 as an investigational nanomedicine that catalytically improves energetic metabolism in central nervous system cells and supports neuroprotection and remyelination in preclinical models. They concluded that the phase two REPAIR trials provided clear evidence of brain target engagement in both Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Investigators at UT Southwestern have commented that this is the first time an oral catalytic therapy has been shown to directly modulate brain energy metabolites in human patients with neurodegenerative disease. They also emphasised that metabolic rescue may offer a completely new path for treatment that complements, rather than replaces, existing immune focused or symptom focused therapies.
Broader Implications for MS, Parkinson’s, and Beyond
Current therapies for multiple sclerosis primarily aim to reduce immune driven relapses and slow inflammatory damage. Treatments for Parkinson’s disease focus on easing symptoms by replacing or mimicking dopamine. Both strategies can be very helpful, but they do not fully address the underlying energy crisis within neurons.
Catalytic gold nanomedicine offers a different angle. By boosting the NAD plus to NADH ratio and supporting mitochondrial function, CNM Au8 targets the fundamental bioenergetic problems that are common across many neurodegenerative disorders. This is why the same investigational therapy is also being explored in conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Looking ahead, larger placebo controlled studies will need to confirm whether sustained improvements in brain metabolism with CNM Au8 translate into slower disease progression, reduced disability, and better quality of life over the long term. Phase three trials are already being planned in multiple sclerosis, and further development programs are being prepared in Parkinson’s disease.
How This Relates to Colloidal Gold and Everyday Wellness
Although CNM Au8 is a patented investigational drug and not a supplement, this research has reignited interest in gold based approaches to brain health. Historically, gold preparations have been used in traditional systems of medicine for mood, clarity, and vitality. Modern colloidal gold products are not designed to treat or cure disease, but many wellness users choose them as part of a holistic approach to support the mind and nervous system.
High quality colloidal gold may help to:
- Support mental clarity and focus.
- Promote a more balanced mood.
- Complement lifestyle practices that nourish nervous system health, such as meditation, breathwork, and nutrient rich diets.
If you are curious about exploring colloidal gold as a daily wellness ally, you can discover premium formulations at Gold Healing. Our colloidal gold is crafted with purity and consistency in mind, designed to support cognitive function, calm, and overall vitality as part of a balanced lifestyle.
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Conclusion: A Golden Shift in Brain Science
The REPAIR MS and REPAIR PD trials mark a significant step forward in the field of neurodegenerative medicine. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that an oral suspension of gold nanocrystals can engage brain targets, improve NAD plus related energy metabolism, and show early signals of functional benefit in people with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
While larger and longer trials are still needed, this work opens a new chapter in how we think about treating neurodegenerative disease. Instead of only suppressing inflammation or replacing missing neurotransmitters, future therapies may also focus on restoring the cellular engines of the brain.
In this emerging landscape, gold is no longer just a precious metal. It is becoming a symbol of hope in the search for smarter, more regenerative approaches to brain health.
For readers who want to dive into the technical details, you can explore the original research article in Journal of Nanobiotechnology and related summaries from UT Southwestern and other scientific outlets.
