Advances in
acute stroke therapy resulting from thrombolytic treatment,
endovascular procedures, and
stroke units have improved significantly
stroke survival and prognosis; however, for the large majority of patients lacking access to advanced
therapies stroke mortality and residual morbidity remain high and many patients become incapacitated by motor and cognitive deficits, with loss of independence in
activities of daily living. Therefore, over the past several years, research has been directed to limit the brain lesions produced by acute
ischemia (neuroprotection) and to increase the recovery, plasticity and neuroregenerative processes that
complement rehabilitation and enhance the possibility of recovery and return to normal functions (neurorepair).
Citicoline has
therapeutic effects at several stages of the ischemic cascade in
acute ischemic stroke and has demonstrated efficiency in a multiplicity of animal models of
acute stroke. Long-term treatment with
citicoline is safe and effective, improving post-
stroke cognitive decline and enhancing patients' functional recovery. Prolonged
citicoline administration at optimal doses has been demonstrated to be remarkably well tolerated and to enhance endogenous mechanisms of neurogenesis and neurorepair contributing to
physical therapy and rehabilitation.