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Peptide

Cerebrolysin

Cerebrolysin is a neuropeptide preparation derived from porcine brain tissue, consisting of low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acids that mimic the action of endogenous neurotrophic factors. It is approved in over 50 countries (though not in the USA) for the treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and dementia. Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have evaluated its efficacy, showing consistent improvements in early neurological recovery after ischemic stroke and modest cognitive benefits in Alzheimer's disease, with a safety profile comparable to placebo.

Research notice. This page is for education and research. Peptides may not be FDA-approved for human use and may only be legally available for research. Talk to a qualified clinician before considering any peptide.

Best evidence
Grade B
Conditions studied
2
Outcomes
18
Graded outcomes
0576

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

2 conditions, plus general outcomes

General

General: outcomes studied for Cerebrolysin
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Neuroprotection

28 human trials and systematic reviews support this finding. Evidence includes systematic reviews/meta-analyses. Human clinical trial data available.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect10 studies

Studies that measured neuroprotection

Liver Protection

8 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect8 studies

Studies that measured liver protection

Safety/Tolerability

4 human trials and systematic reviews support this finding. Evidence includes systematic reviews/meta-analyses. Human clinical trial data available.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect4 studies

Studies that measured safety/tolerability

Sleep Quality

3 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect3 studies

Studies that measured sleep quality

Blood Glucose Control

3 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect3 studies

Studies that measured blood glucose control

Anti-Inflammatory Activity

2 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies
Pain

2 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies
Oxidative Stress

2 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies
Anti-Aging

2 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies
Depression Symptoms

2 preclinical studies support this finding. Primarily preclinical evidence.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies
Cardiac Protection

2 human trials support this finding. Human clinical trial data available.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies

Cognitive Health

Cognitive Health: outcomes studied for Cerebrolysin
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Alzheimer's Disease Cognitive Function

Significant improvement vs placebo at 4 weeks (SMD -0.40)

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect8 studies784 people

Studies that measured alzheimer's disease cognitive function

Alzheimer's Disease Global Clinical Change

Significant improvement (OR 3.32 at 4 weeks, OR 4.98 at 6 months)

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect1 study784 people

Studies that measured alzheimer's disease global clinical change

Mild TBI Cognitive Recovery

Enhanced cognitive recovery in double-blind placebo-controlled study

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect8 studies32 people

Studies that measured mild tbi cognitive recovery

Vascular Dementia Symptoms

Moderate improvement in clinical symptoms vs controls

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect4 studies592 people

Studies that measured vascular dementia symptoms

Neurological Health

Neurological Health: outcomes studied for Cerebrolysin
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery

Significant improvement in GCS and GOS scores

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect6 studies8,749 people

Studies that measured traumatic brain injury recovery

Stroke Recovery (Early Neurological Function)

Notable Improvement in NIHSS scores at Day 30

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect5 studies2,884 people

Studies that measured stroke recovery (early neurological function)

Stroke Recovery (Long-term Functional Outcome)

Inconsistent results at Day 90 on modified Rankin Scale

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect6 studies1,649 people

Studies that measured stroke recovery (long-term functional outcome)

Key findings

  • NeuroprotectionImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Alzheimer's Disease Cognitive FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury RecoveryNeurological HealthImproves (the measure goes up)

Studies cited

49 studies from PubMed

  1. The possible role of cerebrolysin in the management of vascular dementia: Leveraging concepts.Neuroscience, 2025 · PMID 39832667
  2. Efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness analysis of Cerebrolysin in acute ischemic stroke: A rapid health technology assessment.Medicine, 2024 · PMID 38552072
  3. [Cerebrolysin in the preventive therapy of dementia in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment: a three-year prospective comparative study].Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 2024 · PMID 39435777
  4. Cerebrolysin potentiates the antidepressant effect of lithium in a rat model of depression.Journal of psychiatric research, 2024 · PMID 38394763
  5. Treatment with Cerebrolysin Prolongs Lifespan in a Mouse Model of Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy.Advanced biology, 2024 · PMID 38062874
  6. Modulation of neurotrophic factors in the treatment of dementia, stroke and TBI: Effects of CerebrolysinProg Brain Res, 2023 · PMID 37052231
  7. Cerebrolysin reduces excitotoxicity by modulation of cell-death proteins in delayed hours of ischemic reperfusion injury.Metabolic brain disease, 2023 · PMID 37273080
  8. Cerebrolysin Attenuates Exacerbation of Neuropathic Pain, Blood-spinal Cord Barrier Breakdown and Cord Pathology Following Chronic Intoxication of Engineered Ag, Cu or Al (50-60 nm) Nanoparticles.Neurochemical research, 2023 · PMID 36719560
  9. Nanowired Delivery of Cerebrolysin Together with Antibodies to Amyloid Beta Peptide, Phosphorylated Tau, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Induces Superior Neuroprotection in Alzheimer's Disease Brain Pathology Exacerbated by Sleep Deprivation.Advances in neurobiology, 2023 · PMID 37480458
  10. Neuroprotective Effects of Nanowired Delivery of Cerebrolysin with Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Monoclonal Antibodies to Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in Brain Pathology Following Alzheimer's Disease Exacerbated by Concussive Head Injury.Advances in neurobiology, 2023 · PMID 37480461
  11. TiO(2)-Nanowired Delivery of Chinese Extract of Ginkgo biloba EGb-761 and Bilobalide BN-52021 Enhanced Neuroprotective Effects of Cerebrolysin Following Spinal Cord Injury at Cold Environment.Advances in neurobiology, 2023 · PMID 37480466
  12. Nanowired delivery of antibodies to tau and neuronal nitric oxide synthase together with cerebrolysin attenuates traumatic brain injury induced exacerbation of brain pathology in Parkinson's disease.International review of neurobiology, 2023 · PMID 37783564
  13. [Cerebrolysin in the treatment of cognitive impairment].Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 2023 · PMID 36946392
  14. Cerebrolysin provides effective protection on high glucose-induced neuropathy in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.Journal of receptor and signal transduction research, 2023 · PMID 38079610
  15. Cerebrolysin Amelioration of Spinal Cord Ischemia/ Reperfusion Injury in Rabbit Model.Turkish neurosurgery, 2023 · PMID 37309634
  16. [Effects of simultaneous use of Cerebrolysin and alteplase on hemorrhagic transformation of brain infarction and functional outcome in stroke patients: CEREHETIS, a randomized, multicenter pilot trial].Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 2023 · PMID 37682097
  17. Cerebrolysin alleviates early brain injury after traumatic brain injury by inhibiting neuroinflammation and apoptosis via TLR signaling pathway.Acta cirurgica brasileira, 2022 · PMID 36074398
  18. Cerebrolysin® and Environmental Enrichment, Alone or in Combination, Ameliorate Anxiety- and Depressive-Like Behaviors in a Post-Ischemic Depression Model in Mice.Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association, 2022 · PMID 35500360
  19. Cerebrolysin for stroke, neurodegeneration, and traumatic brain injury: review of the literature and outcomesNeurol Sci, 2021 · PMID 33515100
  20. Cerebrolysin Prevents Brain Injury in a Mouse Model of Liver Damage.Brain sciences, 2021 · PMID 34942925
  21. Cerebrolysin in the therapy of mild cognitive impairment and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: 30 years of clinical use.Medicinal research reviews, 2021 · PMID 32808294
  22. Cerebrolysin after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: prospective meta-analysis of the CAPTAIN trial series.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021 · PMID 33620612
  23. Cerebrolysin prevents sleep deprivation induced memory impairment and oxidative stress.Physiology & behavior, 2020 · PMID 31987894
  24. Cerebrolysin enhances the expression of the synaptogenic protein LRRTM4 in the hippocampus and improves learning and memory in senescent rats.Behavioural pharmacology, 2020 · PMID 31850962
  25. Cerebrolysin ameliorates prefrontal cortex and hippocampus neural atrophy of spontaneous hypertensive rats with hyperglycemia.Synapse (New York, N.Y.), 2020 · PMID 32232874
  26. Diabetes exacerbates brain pathology following a focal blast brain injury: New role of a multimodal drug cerebrolysin and nanomedicine.Progress in brain research, 2020 · PMID 33223037
  27. Sleep deprivation exacerbates concussive head injury induced brain pathology: Neuroprotective effects of nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin with α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.Progress in brain research, 2019 · PMID 30961865
  28. Nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin with neprilysin and p-Tau antibodies induces superior neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease.Progress in brain research, 2019 · PMID 30961867
  29. Cerebrolysin improves peripheral inflammatory pain: Sex differences in two models of acute and chronic mechanical hypersensitivity.Drug development research, 2019 · PMID 30908710
  30. Nanodelivery of cerebrolysin reduces pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.Progress in brain research, 2019 · PMID 30961868
  31. Cerebrolysin attenuates ethanol-induced spatial memory impairments through inhibition of hippocampal oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death in rats.Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.), 2019 · PMID 30981808
  32. Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in early post-stroke recovery: a meta-analysis of nine randomized clinical trialsNeurol Sci, 2018 · PMID 29248999
  33. Cerebrolysin for functional recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsCNS Drugs, 2017 · PMID 28458521
  34. Efficacy and Safety of Cerebrolysin for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.BioMed research international, 2017 · PMID 28656143
  35. Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in motor function recovery after stroke: a meta-analysis of the CARS trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2017 · PMID 28707130
  36. Alzheimer's disease: cerebrolysin and nanotechnology as a therapeutic strategy.Neurodegenerative disease management, 2016 · PMID 27827552
  37. Cerebrolysin in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trialsDement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 2015 · PMID 25832905
  38. A retrospective, multi-center cohort study evaluating the severity-related effects of cerebrolysin treatment on clinical outcomes in traumatic brain injuryCNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, 2015 · PMID 25924999
  39. The role of functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the central nervous system injury and repair: new potentials for neuroprotection with Cerebrolysin therapy.Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2014 · PMID 24730284
  40. Cerebrolysin enhances cognitive recovery of mild traumatic brain injury patients: double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studyBr J Neurosurg, 2013 · PMID 23656173
  41. Cerebrolysin for vascular dementiaCochrane Database Syst Rev, 2013 · PMID 23440834
  42. The pharmacology of neurotrophic treatment with Cerebrolysin: brain protection and repair to counteract pathologies of acute and chronic neurological disordersDrugs Today, 2012 · PMID 22514792
  43. Safety profile of Cerebrolysin: clinical experience from dementia and stroke trialsDrugs Today, 2012 · PMID 22514795
  44. Superior neuroprotective effects of cerebrolysin in nanoparticle-induced exacerbation of hyperthermia-induced brain pathology.CNS & neurological disorders drug targets, 2012 · PMID 22229316
  45. Cerebrolysin, a mixture of neurotrophic factors induces marked neuroprotection in spinal cord injury following intoxication of engineered nanoparticles from metals.CNS & neurological disorders drug targets, 2012 · PMID 22229324
  46. Cerebrolysin improves symptoms and delays progression in patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998), 2012 · PMID 22514793
  47. Cerebrolysin in Alzheimer's disease.Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998), 2011 · PMID 22013558
  48. Cerebrolysin: a review of its use in dementia.Drugs & aging, 2009 · PMID 19848437
  49. Meta-analysis: the efficacy of nootropic agent Cerebrolysin in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996), 2007 · PMID 17318304