Cerebrolysin (developmental code name FPF-1070) is a mixture of enzymatically treated

peptide Peptides (, ) are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Long chains of amino acids are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides. ...

s derived from

pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus ...

brain A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a ve ...

whose constituents can include

brain-derived neurotrophic factor Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or abrineurin, is a protein found in the and the periphery. that, in humans, is encoded by the ''BDNF'' gene. BDNF is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, which are related to the canon ...

(BDNF),

glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ''GDNF'' gene. GDNF is a small protein that potently promotes the survival of many types of neurons. It signals through GFRα receptors, particula ...

(GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and

ciliary neurotrophic factor Ciliary neurotrophic factor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CNTF'' gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a polypeptide hormone and neurotrophic factor whose actions have mainly been studied in the nervous system where it p ...

(CNTF). Cerebrolysin has also been studied for potential use with a wide variety of neurodegenerative disorders, though research is preliminary. Cochrane reviews suggest no benefit in the treatment of acute stroke and an increased rate of spontaneous adverse events requiring

hospitalization A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergency ...

. Conversely, reviews suggest positive effect when cerebrolysin is used with

vascular dementia Vascular dementia (VaD) is dementia caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain, typically a series of minor strokes, leading to worsening cognitive abilities, the decline occurring piecemeal. The term refers to a syndrome consisti ...

. All Cochrane analyses to date stress that these relationships needed to be confirmed by further high quality clinical trials.

Research

Stroke

Reviews suggest no benefit for treatment of acute ischemic stroke with cerebrolysin, though they also emphasize the need for further high quality studies. In addition, cerebrolysin use was associated with a higher rate of spontaneous adverse events requiring hospitalization. Studies of ischemic stroke in Asian subpopulations also found an absence of benefit. An early study also suggested a lack of benefit with hemorrhagic stroke related to

cerebral aneurysm An intracranial aneurysm, also known as a brain aneurysm, is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel. Aneurysms in the posterior circula ...

Dementia

Reviews of preliminary research indicate a possible improvement in

cognitive function Cognitive skills, also called cognitive functions, cognitive abilities or cognitive capacities, are brain-based skills which are needed in acquisition of knowledge, manipulation of information and reasoning. They have more to do with the mechanisms ...

using cerebrolysin for

and Alzheimer's disease, although further high-quality research is needed.

Other

Early studies have suggested potential use of cerebrolysin with a wide variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including

traumatic brain injury A traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as an intracranial injury, is an injury to the brain caused by an external force. TBI can be classified based on severity (ranging from mild traumatic brain injury TBI/concussionto severe traumatic br ...

schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social wit ...

, multiple sclerosis,

cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood. Signs and symptoms vary among people and over time, but include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. There may be problems with sens ...

and

spinal cord injury A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cor ...

though research is still preliminary.

Adverse effects

In trials studying the use of cerebrolysin after acute stroke, there was no increased risk of "serious adverse events" requiring hospitalization. These were specifically defined as: :"...any untoward medical occurrence that, at any dose, resulted in death, aslife‐threatening, required inpatient hospitalisation or resulted in prolongation of existing hospitalisation, resulted in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, asa congenital anomaly/birth defect, or asa medically important event or reaction”.

Mechanism of action

''In vitro'' and animal studies suggest neurotrophic effects of cerebrolysin similar to endogenous neurotrophic factors, though its specific molecular pharmacodynamics are not clear. Studies of

dementia Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...

suggest decreased

beta-amyloid Amyloid beta (Aβ or Abeta) denotes peptides of 36–43 amino acids that are the main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The peptides derive from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which i ...

deposition.

Regulatory

Cerebrolysin is not a scheduled drug in the United States.

References

{{Growth factor receptor modulators Antidementia agents Neuroprotective agents Nootropics Peptides