Mechanisms and Benefits of Fasoracetam

Fasoracetam is a nootropic compound that is categorized as a member of the racetam family. Like other racetam compounds, fasoracetam is shown to improve mood and enhance cognition. This compound was originally developed in the 1990s by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Nippon Shinyaku with the intention of treating dementia. After being abandoned by Nippon Shinyaku, the research was obtained in 2013 by the company NeuroFix and is now being examined for its ability to treat various cognitive disorders. The primary benefits of fasoracetam are related to the prevention of memory loss, reduction of depression, and improvement of cognition.

Evidence has found that fasoracetam may work through several potential mechanisms of action. First, researchers Ogasawara et. Al examined how fasoracetam affects the cholinergic and GABAergic systems. The study initially disrupted memory in rats through electroconvulsive shock and then tested their passive avoidance through a radial arm maze task. 10 mg/kg of fasoracetam a day was administered to the rats over the experimental period. Results reported that this dose led to an increase in acetylcholine (ACh) release in the cerebral cortex as well as overall improvement in high-affinity choline uptake (HACU) in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. The study also found that fasoracetam is capable of disrupting memory loss caused by GABA-B receptor agonists, These results led researchers to conclude that the anti-amnesic effects of fasoracetam were due to the upregulation of ACh expression and the suppression of GABA-B receptor responses (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10494996/).

The findings of the study conducted by Ogasawara et. Al were supported by the work of Oka et. Al. They concluded that fasoracetam is potentially able to increase the amount of GABA receptors found in the cerebral cortex of rats. Because of fasoracetam’s connection to GABA receptors, evidence has found that the compound has the potential to interact with the common medication, Phenibut. Phenibut is used to ward off feelings of anxiety and improve general cognitive functioning. The drug itself is known for its ability to activate GABA receptors. Fasoracetam is capable of increasing the amount of GABA receptors, indicating that the nootropic interacts with Phenibut by increasing sensitivity and decreasing tolerance to the drug. Additional findings regarding the relationship between fasoracetam and GABA receptor activity suggests that fasoracetam is able to stimulate cAMP formation as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are the primary solicitors of excitatory synaptic connections throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Administration of fasoracetam has been found to activate mGluRs in the brain. Glutamate receptors play a crucial role in memory and learning in the brain as the excitatory transmissions promote memory formation and retention. Studies conducted by Gil-Sanz et. Al and Aiba et. Al found that mGluR knockout mice had many deficiencies when it came to learning and were incapable of inducing long term potentiation. The lack of mGluRs in the mice also negatively affected the cerebellum and led to gait issues and long-term depression in the mice. Omitting the mGluRs can lead to various other CNS disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, and pain syndromes. Researchers were able to conclude that mGluRs are vital to proper functioning of the CNS, and could potentially be supported and enhanced by fasoracetam (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904507/).

In addition to its memory enhancing properties, fasoracetam is a potential treatment for anxiety and depression through regulation of the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. Research suggests that by increasing glutamate levels, the resulting excitatory signals tend to increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Both of which are neurotransmitters that play a crucial role in improving depression and anxiety. Furthermore, increasing levels of free glutamate leads to improved ability to synthesize GABA receptors. As it was previously mentioned, fasoracetam is able to further increase availability of GABA receptors.

These two mechanisms are important to note considering a low number of GABA receptors commonly leads to feelings of anxiety and depression. Additionally, GABA receptors are known for their inhibitory effects on the central nervous system. By suppressing the activity of the CNS, research reports resulting feelings of drastically decreased anxiety as well as relaxation of the skeletal muscles (https://www.ijest.org/nootropics/fasoracetam/).

The nootropics sold by Umbrella Labs are sold for laboratory research only. The description above is not medical advice and is for informative purposes only.

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