Aniracetam is a nootropic drug in senile dementia [1].
Aniracetam (Ro 13-5057) has a piracetam-like chemical structure, 1-p-anisoyl-2-pyrrolidinone. It is selected from a series of related compounds because of its effect in impaired cognitive functions in rodents. In rats, the administration of aniracetam (30mg/kg orally) markedly prevents the CO2 induced impairment of acquisition. It also significantly increases the percentage of rats showing retention of the learned task in both the scopolamine induced transient retrograde amnesia model (50mg/kg orally) and the electroconvulsive shock induced memory disruption model (50mg/kg orally). Besides that, aniracetam can prevent the disruptive effect caused by chloramphenicol or cycloheximide (30mg/kg orally) [1, 2].
References:
[1] MIZUKI Y, YAMADA M, KATO I, et al. Effects of aniracetam, a nootropic drug, in senile dementia. A preliminary report.: A Preliminary Report. The Kurume medical journal, 1984, 31(2): 135-143.
[2] Cumin R, Bandle E F, Gamzu E, et al. Effects of the novel compound aniracetam (Ro 13-5057) upon impaired learning and memory in rodents. Psychopharmacology, 1982, 78(2): 104-111.