Learn about brain health and nootropics to boost brain function
Cerebrolysin is a nootropic drug that may improve cognitive function and memory. A number of countries use this drug to treat dementia, stroke, and brain injury. Read more to learn about the effects and uses of this drug and its potential side effects. What Is Cerebrolysin? Cerebrolysin is purported to be a nootropic, a “smart drug” that can improve cognitive function. It is a mixture of amino acids and proteins derived from pig brains, including: These proteins are also found naturally in the human brain, where they play an important role in brain cell development and repair [ 2 ]. Cerebrolysin is not approved for medical use in the United States. However, this drug is sometimes used in a number of European and Asian countries for the treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and dementia [ 3 , 4 ]. According to research, Cerebrolysin may work by: Improving brain cell communication, which enhances learning capacity [ 8 , 9 , 2 ]. Increasing brain energy (by increasing glucose uptake by brain cells) and protein production in cells [ 10 , 11 ]. Decreasing brain levels of beta-amyloid deposits, which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease [ 12 ]. Cerebrolysin is not approved for medical treatment in the United States. Other countries sometimes use this drug for the treatment of several conditions, which are described below. Cerebrolysin should always be taken under the guidance of a doctor. A number of clinical studies suggest that Cerebrolysin may help improve cognition, motor function, and recovery time in patients that have experienced an acute stroke [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. For example, one randomized placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial of 208 patients examined the effects of taking Cerebrolysin within 72 hours of a stroke and for 21 […]
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