Choline alfoscerate: support of cognitive function in elderly patients with vascular disorders
https://doi.org/10.14412/2074-2711-2025-6-106-113
Abstract
Cognitive impairment (CI) occupies a special place among the medical and social problems of modern gerontology, directly affecting both the duration and quality of life of older people.
One of the important pathogenetic mechanisms in the development of cognitive dysfunction is cholinergic deficiency, which is observed in both cerebrovascular pathology and Alzheimer's disease. This imbalance not only exacerbates cognitive decline, but also disrupts the complex mechanisms of cerebral haemodynamic regulation. In this context, choline alfoscerate is of particular therapeutic interest. It is a unique molecule that serves as a precursor to both acetylcholine and the structural phospholipids of neuronal membranes and their receptor apparatus.
Numerous clinical studies convincingly demonstrate the ability of choline alfoscerate to provide statistically significant improvement in cognitive function, reduce the risk of mild CI transforming into dementia, and slow the progression of dementia. Particularly impressive results are observed when the drug is combined with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: the synergistic effect is not only manifested in improved neuropsychological parameters, but is also reflected in objective neuroimaging data, indicating a slowdown in the rate of cerebral atrophy.
Thanks to its optimal safety profile and good tolerability, choline alfoscerate has proven itself to be a promising agent for preventive therapy and long-term treatment of CI in clinical practice.
Keywords
About the Authors
S. V. LitvinovaRussian Federation
Department of Therapy and Polymorbid Pathology named after Academician M.S. Vovsi.
2/1, Barrikadnaya St., Build. 1, Moscow 125993
Competing Interests:
There are no conflict of interest
A. I. Kochetkov
Russian Federation
Alexey Ivanovich Kochetkov - Department of Therapy and Polymorbid Pathology named after Academician M.S. Vovsi.
2/1, Barrikadnaya St., Build. 1, Moscow 125993
Competing Interests:
There are no conflict of interest
T. M. Ostroumova
Russian Federation
Department of Therapy and Polymorbid Pathology named after Academician M.S. Vovsi; Department of Nervous Diseases N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine Sechenov University.
2/1, Barrikadnaya St., Build. 1, Moscow 125993; 11, Rossolimo St., Build. 1, Moscow 119021
Competing Interests:
There are no conflict of interest
O. D. Ostroumova
Russian Federation
Department of Therapy and Polymorbid Pathology named after Academician M.S. Vovsi; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine Sechenov University.
2/1, Barrikadnaya St., Build. 1, Moscow 125993; 11, Rossolimo St., Build. 4, Moscow 119021
Competing Interests:
There are no conflict of interest
References
1. Cherdak MA, Mkhitaryan EA, Sharashkina NV, et al. Prevalence of cognitive impairment in older adults in the Russian Federation. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2024;124(4-2):5-11 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17116/jnevro20241240425
2. WHO: Global status report on the public health response to dementia. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2021. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240033245 (accessed 14.01.2024).
3. GBD 2019 Dementia Forecasting Collaborators. Estimation of the global prevalence of dementia in 2019 and forecasted prevalence in 2050: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Public Health. 2022;7(2):e105e125. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00249-8
4. Schwarzinger M, Dufouil C. Forecasting the prevalence of dementia. Lancet Public Health. 2022;7(2):e94-e95. doi: 10.1016/S24682667(21)00277-2
5. Parfenov VA, Zaharov VV, Preobrazhenskaja IS. Cognitive disorders. Moscow: Remedium; 2014 (In Russ.).
6. Gottesman RF, Schneider AL, Zhou Y, et al. Association Between Midlife Vascular Risk Factors and Estimated Brain Amyloid Deposition. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1443-50. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.3090
7. Iadecola C, Duering M, Hachinski V, et al. Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: JACC Scientific Expert Panel. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(25):3326-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.04.034
8. Kulesh AA, Emelin AYu, Bogolepova AN, et al. Clinical manifestations and issues of diagnosis of chronic cerebrovascular disease (chronic cerebral ischemia) at an early (pre-dementia) stage. Nevrologiya, neiropsikhiatriya, psikhosomatika = Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2021;13(1):4-12 (In Russ.). doi: 10.14412/2074-2711-2021-1-4-12
9. Sweeney MD, Montagne A, Sagare AP, et al. Vascular dysfunction – The disregarded partner of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Dement. 2019;15(1):158-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.07.222
10. Kovalchuk VV. Cognitive Dysfunction: A Modern View of Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy. Effective Pharmacotherapy. 2020;16(31):40-52 (In Russ.). doi: 10.33978/2307-3586-2020-16-31-40-52
11. Gorelick PB, Scuteri A, Black SE, et al. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2011;42(9):2672-713. doi: 10.1161/STR.0b013e3182299496
12. Schliebs R, Arendt T. The cholinergic system in aging and neuronal degeneration. Behav Brain Res. 2011;221(2):555-63. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.11.058
13. Ballinger EC, Ananth M, Talmage DA, Role LW. Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Circuits and Signaling in Cognition and Cognitive Decline. Neuron. 2016;91(6):1199-218. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.09.006
14. Hasselmo ME, Sarter M. Modes and models of forebrain cholinergic neuromodulation of cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011;36(1):52-73. doi: 10.1038/npp.2010.104
15. Bartus RT, Dean RL 3rd, Beer B, Lippa AS. The cholinergic hypothesis of geriatric memory dysfunction. Science. 1982;217(4558):408-14. doi: 10.1126/science.7046051
16. Whitehouse PJ, Price DL, Struble RG, et al. Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia: loss of neurons in the basal forebrain. Science. 1982;215(4537):1237-9. doi: 10.1126/sci-ence.7058341
17. Iadecola C. The Neurovascular Unit Coming of Age: A Journey through Neurovascular Coupling in Health and Disease. Neuron. 2017 Sep 27;96(1):17-42. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.07.030
18. Traini E, Bramanti V, Amenta F. Choline alphoscerate (alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine) an old choline-containing phospholipid with a still interesting profile as cognition enhancing agent. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013;10(10):1070-9. doi: 10.2174/15672050113106660173
19. Клинические рекомендации. «Ишемический инсульт и транзиторная ишемическая атака». Год утверждения: 2024. Clinical Guidelines. “Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack”. Approved: 2024 (In Russ.).
20. Clinical Guidelines. “Cognitive Impairments in the Elderly and Very Old”. Approved: 2024 (In Russ.).
21. Регистр лекарственных средств. Церепро®. Доступно по ссылке: https://www.rlsnet.ru/drugs/cerepro-28453 Medicines Register. Cerepro®. Available at: https://www.rlsnet.ru/drugs/cerepro-28453 (In Russ.).
22. Kostenko EV, Petrova LV, Artemova IIu, et al. The use of “Cerepro®” (choline alfoscerate) in the treatment of outpatients with chronic progressive cerebrovascular disease. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2012;112(3):24-30 (In Russ.).
23. Rumyantseva SA, Kravchuk AA, Ryzhova DD. Therapy of cognitive disorders in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. RMJ. 2007;(5):379 (In Russ.).
24. Muratorio A, Bonuccelli U, Nuti A, et al. A neurotropic approach to the treatment of multi-infarct dementia using l-a-glycerylphosphorylcholine. V.M. Bekhterev Review of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology. 2016;(2):53-60 (In Russ.).
25. Sagaro GG, Traini E, Amenta F. Activity of Choline Alphoscerate on Adult-Onset Cognitive Dysfunctions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;92(1):59-70. doi: 10.3233/JAD-221189
26. Kim HK, Park S, Kim SW, et al. Association between L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine use and delayed dementia conversion: A nationwide longitudinal study in South Korea. 2. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2025;12(4):100059. doi: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100059
27. Ponomareva EV, Androsova LV, Krinsky SA, Gavrilova SI. Efficacy and safety of choline alfoscerate in the preventive therapy of dementia in elderly patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: a three-year prospective comparative study. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2024;124(4-2):92-9 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17116/jnevro202412404292
28. Amenta F, Carotenuto A, Fasanaro AM, et al. The ASCOMALVA (Association between the Cholinesterase Inhibitor Donepezil and the Cholinergic Precursor Choline Alphoscerate in Alzheimer's Disease) Trial: interim results after two years of treatment. J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;42 Suppl 3:S281-8. doi: 10.3233/JAD-140150
29. Traini E, Carotenuto A, Fasanaro AM, Amenta F. Volume Analysis of Brain Cognitive Areas in Alzheimer's Disease: Interim 3-Year Results from the ASCOMALVA Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;76(1):317-29. doi: 10.3233/JAD-190623
30. Carotenuto A, Fasanaro AM, Manzo V, et al. Association Between the Cholinesterase Inhibitor Donepezil and the Cholinergic Precursor Choline Alphoscerate in the Treatment of Depression in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2022;6(1):235-43. doi: 10.3233/ADR-200269
31. Kolykhalov IV, Gavrilova SI. Prolonged alfoscerate effects in patients with the syndrome of amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Pacific Medical Journal. 2019;(1):18-22 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17238/PmJ1609-1175.2019.1.18-22
32. Kang M, Lee DB, Kwon S, et al. Effectiveness of Nootropics in Combination with Cholinesterase Inhibitors on Cognitive Function in Mild-to-Moderate Dementia:Study Using Real-World Data. J Clin Med. 2022;11(16):4661. doi: 10.3390/jcm11164661
Review
For citations:
Litvinova SV, Kochetkov AI, Ostroumova TM, Ostroumova OD. Choline alfoscerate: support of cognitive function in elderly patients with vascular disorders. Nevrologiya, neiropsikhiatriya, psikhosomatika = Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2025;17(6):106-113. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.14412/2074-2711-2025-6-106-113








































