Cognitive & neuro

Cortexin

A polypeptide extract of animal brain cortex used in Russia for cognitive complaints, with no Western regulatory review.

Limited evidenceInvestigationalAdd to compare

What it is

Cortexin is a polypeptide complex extracted from bovine or porcine cerebral cortex, supplied as vials for intramuscular injection. It is licensed in Russia and a few neighbouring countries and prescribed there for cognitive impairment and recovery after stroke. It has never been reviewed by the EMA or FDA, and much of its literature is published in Russian.

How it works

1
Proposed neurotrophic and antioxidant activity from the peptide fraction.
2
Reported reduction in oxidative stress markers in animal models.
3
Reported normalisation of neurotransmitter balance after injury in rodents.
4
No single molecular target or active component has been identified.
5
Because the content varies by batch, pharmacology is difficult to define.

What it's studied for

Cognitive impairment in older adults

Rehabilitation after stroke

Childhood attention and language difficulties in Russian trials

Epilepsy as adjunct therapy

Reported and studied effects

Small Russian trials report improved cognitive scores
Effects are not reproduced in independent Western studies
No reliable data on long-term outcomes

Research protocol notes

Research context only

Research context only - licensed in Russia and a few neighbouring countries, where it is given as 10 mg intramuscularly once daily for ten days. Trials are small, often open-label, and mostly reported in Russian; none has been replicated outside the region.

These figures are described so you can understand what researchers did. They are not a dose, a schedule, or a suggestion — and they are not a substitute for a doctor.

Possible side effects and contraindications

Safety profile

Possible side effects

Injection-site irritation
Allergic reactions
Agitation or sleep disturbance reported
No systematic long-term safety data

Contraindications and cautions

Prior hypersensitivity
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Epilepsy needs caution
No established paediatric dosing outside licensed countries

A side-effect list is never complete, and these are not the only situations that warrant caution. Anything unexpected, or anything you are unsure about, should be discussed with a doctor before use.

Evidence assessment

Limited evidenceSmall human studies or animal data only

Small human studies or animal data only

Small, largely open-label trials in a single region, with no independent replication and no Western regulatory assessment.

References

References link to published literature, regulator pages or literature indexes. Where a link points to a search, it collects the peer-reviewed work on that molecule rather than a single study.

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Cerebrolysin

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