Detoxification of acetominophen depletes the liver of glutathione, the major antioxidant inside of cells. The cells in your body normally make enough glutathione to keep the destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are a by-product of mitochondrial energy production under control. ROS produced in neurons, especially dopaminergic neurons, are thought to be a trigger for setting off the release of more ROS by brain microglial cells, resulting in the functional loss and/or death of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia seen in Parkinsons disease.

PWPs already tend to have lower than normal brain glutathione, and some of the brain glutathione may be provided by the liver through the blood. For this reason, we should be especially careful about using Tylenol and other medicines containing acetominophen.