Vinpocetine from LifeLink
Vinpocetine is derived from an
alkaloid found in the periwinkle plant. It has
become popular as a memory enhancer and
cognitive aid and is used to treat a variety of
neurological disorders, including:
- cerebrovascular disorders
– low cerebral blood flow, headache,
hypoxia, cerebral atherosclerosis, and
stroke;
- mental impairment – poor
memory, aphasia, motor disorders, senility,
and dementias;
- sensory disorders –
hearing impairment, inner-ear problems,
dizziness, low visual acuity, and diabetic
retinopathy;
- failing neuronal
metabolism.
Most of these uses have
clinical and laboratory support. Vinpocetine
causes dilation of brain blood vessels and it
inhibits blood clotting. These actions improve
cerebral blood flow, which might explain many of
the neurological benefits. In addition,
vinpocetine is thought to increase the
absorption of glucose by nerve cells, thereby
providing extra energy for the brain. These
physiological processes are just beginning to be
explored at the molecular level. The fact that
vinpocetine improves memory and cognition in
ailing individuals has led many perfectly
healthy people to conclude that it should help
them, too — an idea that makes a lot of sense.
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