Cerebrolysin 60 mg

How it works

Cerebrolysin is not one defined peptide. It is an injectable mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids derived from porcine brain tissue. It is marketed in some countries for neurological uses but has no FDA-approved U.S. product or indication.

Benefits & side effects

A 2023 Cochrane review of seven randomized trials involving 1,773 participants concluded that Cerebrolysin probably has little or no effect on death after acute ischemic stroke and probably increases nonfatal serious adverse events.^[1] In the large CASTA randomized trial, the primary outcome did not differ significantly from placebo.^[2]

Other small studies and pooled analyses have reported signals in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, or dementia, but differences in condition, timing, co-treatment, endpoints, and study quality prevent a general claim that Cerebrolysin repairs the brain or improves cognition.