1. Department of Neurology, Dr. RML Hospital & PGIMER, New Delhi-110001
Therapeutic Potential of Vinpocetine for Mild Cognitive Impairment & Dementias
Vikas Dhikav,
Department of Neurology, Dr. RML Hospital & PGIMER, New Delhi

2. Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine is a synthetic ethyl ester of apovincamine, a vinca alkaloid obtained from the leaves of the Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD

3. Pharmacology Cerebral blood-flow enhancing1 Neuroprotective effects
Nootropic
Increases cerebral metabolism
Reheology enhancer2
1Pharmacol Rep. 2011;63(3):618-28, 2Acta Pharm Hung. 1996;66(5):

4. Pharmacokinetics Short acting Active metabolite
Follows linear pharmacokinetics
No accumulation or autoinduction
Arzneimittelforschung. 1989;39(12):

5. Potential treatments in dementias
Vinpocetine
Mifepristone1
Dhikav V, Anand KS. Med Hypotheses. 2007;68(5):

6. Dose
Most clinical studies used vinpocetine 10 mg 3 times daily, orally.
(Accessed online March 10th 2015)

7. What is MCI (1) Memory problems (2) Objective memory disorder
(3) Absence of other cognitive disorders or repercussions on daily life
(4) Normal general cognitive function and
(5) Absence of dementia.
MCI Working Group. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006; 77(6): 714–718.

8. Dementia Memory impairment & at least one of the following: Aphasia
Apraxia
Agnosia,
Disturbances in executive functioning
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011; 19(3): 205–210.

9. Efficacy in Dementia
The three 583 people with dementia placebo control.
Benefit vinpocetine 30mg/day and 60 mg/day compared with placebo,
Number of patients treated for 6 months or more was small.  
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD

10. Safety Clinical trials done so far, suggest good safety of vipocetine.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD

11. Mild Cognitive Impairment
Improvements in memory, attention demonstrated in MCI.
Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2014; 4(4): 654–661; Szatmári S, Whitehouse P, Chochrane 2009

12. Efficacy in dementias
“Basic science is interesting, the evidence for beneficial effect of vinpocetine on patients with dementia is inconclusive”
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD

13. Approval status Not currently approved by FDA.
Off-label status in India in US.
Sold as dietary supplement.
Approved in India by DCGI.
Asian J Pharm Clin Res 2012; 5 (3), 25-29

14. Current recommendations
Vinpocetine treatment can be recommended for patients with mild cognitive impairment.
May improve quality of life in patients with chronic vascular cognitive impairment.
Ideggyogy Sz. 2012;65(3-4):

15. Thank you