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 .
Cerebroprotective effect of piracetam in patients undergoing open heart surgery.
OBJECTIVES Reduction of cognitive function is a possible side effect after the use of cardiopulmonary bypass ( CPB ) during cardiac surgery . Since it has been proven that piracetam is cerebroprotective in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery , we investigated the effects of piracetam on the cognitive performance of patients undergoing open heart surgery . METHODS Patients scheduled for elective open heart surgery were r and omized to the piracetam or placebo group in a double-blind study . Patients received 12 g of piracetam or placebo at the beginning of the operation . Six neuropsychological subtests from the Syndrom Kurz Test and the Alzheimer 's Disease Assessment Scale were performed preoperatively and on day 3 , postoperatively . To assess the overall cognitive function and the degree of cognitive decline across all tests after the surgery , we combined the six test-scores by principal component analysis . RESULTS A total of 88 patients with a mean age of 67 years were enrolled into the study . The mean duration of CPB was 110 minutes . Preoperative clinical parameters and overall cognitive functions were not significantly different between the groups . The postoperative combined score of the neuropsychological tests showed deterioration of cognitive function in both groups ( piracetam : preoperative 0.19 ± 0.97 vs. postoperative -0.97 ± 1.38 , p < 0.0005 and placebo : preoperative -0.14 ± 0.98 vs. postoperative -1.35 ± 1.23 , p < 0.0005 ) . Patients taking piracetam did not perform better than those taking placebo , and both groups had the same decline of overall cognitive function ( p = 0.955 ) . CONCLUSION Piracetam had no cerebroprotective effect in patients undergoing open heart surgery . Unlike the patients who underwent coronary surgery , piracetam did not reduce the early postoperative decline of neuropsychological abilities in heart valve patients
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 .