Cerebrolysin

What it is claimed to help

These are the uses attached to Cerebrolysin in research, clinical practice, or marketing. Listing a claim is not endorsing it — tap any of them to see every other compound carrying the same claim.

What the human evidence actually is

Substantial but disputed. Multiple randomised trials and Cochrane-level reviews exist. Cochrane reviews have generally concluded there is insufficient evidence of benefit in acute ischaemic stroke and vascular dementia, while some individual trials and meta-analyses report improved motor recovery. It is approved and used across Europe and Asia and has never been approved in the US.

How it is supposed to work

A standardised enzymatic hydrolysate of pig brain proteins containing neurotrophic peptide fragments; the active constituent is not definitively identified.

Safety

Generally tolerated; dizziness, agitation reported. Being an animal-derived biological mixture, batch consistency and immunogenicity are ongoing questions.

Storage and handling

Lyophilised peptide is generally stored at 2–8 °C, or below −20 °C for long-term storage. Reconstituted in bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) a solution is typically treated as usable for about 28 days refrigerated, versus roughly 24 hours for plain sterile water, which has no preservative. Add the water slowly down the vial wall and swirl — never shake, which shears peptide chains and foams the solution.