Cerebrolysin

Cerebrolysin is a mixture of peptides purified from pig brains, including (and not limited to) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF),^[1][2] that is approved in many European and Asian countries for treating stroke. It is also sold via the internet as a nootropic. Cerebrolysin helps reduce the number of apoptotic cells after ischemic lesions. It also helps decrease the deposition of beta-amyloid in models of dementia,^[3] and has been found to enhance cognitive function in people with vascular dementia.^[4]

References

1. Windisch M, Gschanes A, Hutter-Paier B (1998). "Neurotrophic activities and therapeutic experience with a brain derived peptide preparation". J. Neural Transm. Suppl. 53: 289–98. PMID 9700665.
2. Menon PK, Muresanu DF, Sharma A, Mössler H, Sharma HS (2012). "Cerebrolysin, a mixture of neurotrophic factors induces marked neuroprotection in spinal cord injury following intoxication of engineered nanoparticles from metals". CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 11 (1): 40–9. PMID 22229324.
3. "The pharmacology of neurotrophic treatment with Cerebrolysin: brain protection and repair to counteract pathologies of acute and chronic neurologic... - PubMed - NCBI". Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
4. "New Drug Cerebrolysin Shows Promise for Dementia". Psychcentral.com. Retrieved May 12, 2015.