From the data reported in the literature , it emerges that nootropics may be an effective alternative for strengthening and enhancing cognitive performance in patients with a range of pathologies .
Although nootropics , and specifically the cholinergic precursors , already have a long history behind them , according to recent renewal of interest , they still seem to have a significant therapeutic role .
Drugs with regulatory indications for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer 's disease , such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine , often have transient effects in dementia disorders .
Nootropics represent probably the first " smart drugs " used for the treatment of cognitive deficits .
The aim of this paper is to verify , by a systematic analysis of the literature , the effectiveness of nootropics in this indication .
The analysis was limited to nootropics with cholinergic activity , in view of the role played by acetylcholine in learning and memory .
Acetylcholine was the first neurotransmitter identified in the history of neuroscience and is the main neurotransmitter of the peripheral , autonomic , and enteric nervous systems .
Persistence of the effects of Cerebrolysin on cognition and qEEG slowing in vascular dementia patients: Results of a 3-month extension study
The maintenance of the effects of Cerebrolysin , a peptidergic compound with neurotrophic activity , on cognitive performance and qEEG activity was investigated through a 12-week , open-label extension of a 4-week , r and omised , placebo-controlled pilot study . Thirty-three out of 41 patients with mild-to-moderate severe probable vascular dementia ( VaD ) according to NINDS-AIREN participating in the double-blind phase of the study were also assessed at the follow-up visit at week 16 . Patients received i.v . infusions of Cerebrolysin ( 10 or 30 mL ) or placebo ( saline ) 5 days/week for 4 weeks . Neuropsychological evaluations and qEEG recordings were done at baseline , week 4 and week 16 . The mean change in score from baseline in the ADAS-cog+ and the slow-to-fast qEEG power ratio ( PR ) , used as an index of qEEG slowing , were the two primary endpoints . Correlations between changes in cognition and qEEG induced by the treatment were also assessed . At the week 16 follow-up visit , Cerebrolysin improved ( p<0.05 ) cognitive performance at the 10-mL and 30-mL doses and reduced qEEG slowing significantly ( p<0.05 ) at the 30-mL dose with respect to the placebo . In addition , a significant ( p<0.05 ) positive correlation between the change from the baseline qEEG PR and ADAS-cog+ variables was observed at week 16 . These results indicate a persistence of the beneficial effects of Cerebrolysin on cognition and qEEG activity in VaD patients for at least 12 weeks after treatment cessation , and they suggest the potential utility of qEEG parameters as biomarkers for VaD clinical trials
From the data reported in the literature , it emerges that nootropics may be an effective alternative for strengthening and enhancing cognitive performance in patients with a range of pathologies .
Although nootropics , and specifically the cholinergic precursors , already have a long history behind them , according to recent renewal of interest , they still seem to have a significant therapeutic role .
Drugs with regulatory indications for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer 's disease , such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine , often have transient effects in dementia disorders .
Nootropics represent probably the first " smart drugs " used for the treatment of cognitive deficits .
The aim of this paper is to verify , by a systematic analysis of the literature , the effectiveness of nootropics in this indication .
The analysis was limited to nootropics with cholinergic activity , in view of the role played by acetylcholine in learning and memory .
Acetylcholine was the first neurotransmitter identified in the history of neuroscience and is the main neurotransmitter of the peripheral , autonomic , and enteric nervous systems .