L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC, choline alfoscerate) is a natural choline compound found in the brain. It is also a parasympathomimetic acetylcholine precursor[1] which may have potential for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease[2] and other dementias[3].

Alpha-GPC rapidly delivers choline to the brain across the blood–brain barrier and is a biosynthetic precursor of acetylcholine[2]. Studies have investigated the efficacy of alpha-GPC for cognitive disorders including stroke and Alzheimer's disease. An Italian multicentre clinical trial on 2,044 patients suffering from recent stroke were supplied alpha-GPC in doses of 1,000 mg/day for 28 days and 400 mg three times per day for the five ensuing months. The trial confirmed the therapeutic role of alpha-GPC on the cognitive recovery of patients based on four measurement scales, three of which reached statistical significance[4].

References:

[1] De J M M M. Cognitive improvement in mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia after treatment with the acetylcholine precursor choline alfoscerate: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial[J]. Clinical Therapeutics, 2003, 25(1):178-193.

[2] Parnetti L, Mignini F, Tomassoni D, et al. Cholinergic precursors in the treatment of cognitive impairment of vascular origin: ineffective approaches or need for re-evaluation?[J]. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2007, 257(1):264-269.

[3] Doggrell S A, Evans S. Treatment of dementia with neurotransmission modulation[J]. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 2003, 12(10):1633-54.

[4] Barbagallo S G, Barbagallo M, Giordano M, et al. alpha-Glycerophosphocholine in the mental recovery of cerebral ischemic attacks. An Italian multicenter clinical trial[J]. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2010, 717(1):253-269.