Abstract
Cognition enhancers are drugs able to facilitate attentional abilities and acquisition, storage and retrieval of information, and to attenuate the impairment of cognitive functions associated with head traumas, stroke, age and age-related pathologies. Development of cognition enhancers is still a difficult task because of complexity of the brain functions, poor predictivity of animal tests and lengthy and expensive clinical trials. After the early serendipitous discovery of first generation cognition enhancers, current research is based on a variety of working hypotheses, derived from the progress of knowledge in the neurobiopathology of cognitive processes. Among other classes of drugs, piracetam-like cognition enhancers (nootropics) have never reached general acceptance, in spite of their excellent tolerability and safety. In the present review, after a general discussion of the problems connected with the design and development of cognition enhancers, the class is examined in more detail. Reasons for the problems encountered by nootropics, compounds therapeutically available and those in development, their structure activity relationships and mechanisms of action are discussed. Recent developments which hopefully will lead to a revival of the class are reviewed.
Keywords: Piracetam-like Nootropics, Memantine, Idebenone, Indeloxazine, Nicergoline, Meclofenoxate, Propentofyline, Exifone, Hopantenic acid, Bifemelane
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Design and Study of Piracetam-like Nootropics, Controversial Members of the Problematic Class of Cognition-Enhancing Drugs
Volume: 8 Issue: 2
Author(s): Fulvio Gualtieri, Dina Manetti, Maria Novella Romanelli and Carla Ghelardini
Affiliation:
Keywords: Piracetam-like Nootropics, Memantine, Idebenone, Indeloxazine, Nicergoline, Meclofenoxate, Propentofyline, Exifone, Hopantenic acid, Bifemelane
Abstract: Cognition enhancers are drugs able to facilitate attentional abilities and acquisition, storage and retrieval of information, and to attenuate the impairment of cognitive functions associated with head traumas, stroke, age and age-related pathologies. Development of cognition enhancers is still a difficult task because of complexity of the brain functions, poor predictivity of animal tests and lengthy and expensive clinical trials. After the early serendipitous discovery of first generation cognition enhancers, current research is based on a variety of working hypotheses, derived from the progress of knowledge in the neurobiopathology of cognitive processes. Among other classes of drugs, piracetam-like cognition enhancers (nootropics) have never reached general acceptance, in spite of their excellent tolerability and safety. In the present review, after a general discussion of the problems connected with the design and development of cognition enhancers, the class is examined in more detail. Reasons for the problems encountered by nootropics, compounds therapeutically available and those in development, their structure activity relationships and mechanisms of action are discussed. Recent developments which hopefully will lead to a revival of the class are reviewed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gualtieri Fulvio, Manetti Dina, Romanelli Novella Maria and Ghelardini Carla, Design and Study of Piracetam-like Nootropics, Controversial Members of the Problematic Class of Cognition-Enhancing Drugs, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2002; 8 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612023396582
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612023396582 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Clinical Applicability of Sequence Variations in Genes Related to Drug Metabolism
Current Drug Metabolism Vasoprotective Actions of the Atrial Natriuretic Peptide
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents Alpha-2 Agonists: Can they Modify the Outcomes in the Postanesthesia Care Unit?
Current Drug Targets Noninvasive Cerebellar Stimulation as a Complement Tool to Pharmacotherapy
Current Neuropharmacology Defining Cell Identity by Comprehensive Gene Expression Profiling
Current Medicinal Chemistry Molecular Pathophysiology of Cavernous Nerve Injury and Identification of Strategies for Nerve Function Recovery After Radical Prostatectomy
Current Drug Targets Reactive Oxygen Species, Redox Signaling and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease: The NF-κB Connection
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Klotho-FGF23, Cardiovascular Disease, and Vascular Calcification: Black or White?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Prognostic Significance of Serum Magnesium in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients
Current Neurovascular Research Neuropsychological Consequences of HIV and Substance Abuse: A Literature Review and Implications for Treatment and Future Research
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Hematoma Expansion Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Mechanisms Targeting the Coagulation Cascade and Platelet Activation
Current Drug Targets Preface
Drug Metabolism Letters Dihydropyridine Receptor Blockade in the Treatment of Asthma
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery The Role of Amino Acids in the Modulation of Cardiac Metabolism During Ischemia and Heart Failure
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pannexin Channels: The Emerging Therapeutic Targets
Current Drug Targets Myocardial Protection Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Novel Approaches in Maintaining Homeostatic Stability in Blood
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Saving the Ischemic Penumbra: Potential Role for Statins and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Current Vascular Pharmacology Design and Development of Microemulsion Based Transdermal Gel of Lercanidipine Hydrochloride by Assimilation of Rotatable Central Composite Design and Principal Component Analysis
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Reduction of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury with Pre- and Postconditioning: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis (Marantic Endocarditis) in Cancer Patients
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets