Ann Med. 1990 Jun;22(3):151-6.
Procaine (Gerovital): no effect on the rehabilitation result in patients with back or hip disease.
Rissanen V, Rissanen P, Tuomisto J.
Siilinjarvi Rehabilitation Centre, Finland.
Gerovital was compared with placebo and another procaine preparation in a double blind study of 88 rehabilitation patients suffering from back or hip disease. In an open part of the study procaine from intramuscularly injected Gerovital disappeared from the plasma within 15-30 minutes. In patients treated with Gerovital or another procaine no clinical, physiological or psychological benefits were found in addition to the improvements following rehabilitation compared with placebo treatment. Clinical examination showed that the benefits of rehabilitation were similar in patients receiving Gerovital, another procaine and placebo.

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J Clin Psychiatry. 1984 May;45(5):196-209.
Chemotherapy of cognitive disorders in geriatric subjects.
Goodnick P, Gershon S.

Many of the neurochemical changes associated with aging brain, particularly lower choline acetyltransferase and higher monoamine oxidase, occur with greater severity in senile dementia, Alzheimer's type (SDAT). These alterations correlate with neuropathologic indices, e.g., the number of senile plaques and tangles. Although many different treatment techniques have been used, most have been unsuccessful. No strong data have supported the use of stimulants, Gerovital H3, or hyperbaric oxygen. Among the vasodilators, cyclandelate and hydergine may be of value in some but not most patients. Much recent work has focused on techniques to increase acetylcholine brain concentrations. To date, precursors, such as choline, seem to have very limited value. Postsynaptic treatments, e.g., physostigmine, hold more hope for future benefit, if longer acting oral preparations are developed. Other compounds, such as ACTH, vasopressin, and piracetam, may have some value but need better definition and treatment indications. Recent discoveries on the influences of lecithin on membrane fluidity and receptor binding, may affect the focus of future pharmacologic investigation.

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Am J Psychiatry. 1981 May;138(5):593-600.
An overview of pharmacologic treatment of cognitive decline in the aged.
Reisberg B, Ferris SH, Gershon S.

The most widely known substances that have been investigated for treating cognitive deterioration in the aged are cerebral vasodilators, Gerovital H3, psychostimulants, "nootropics," neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters. The rationale for the choice of specific agents has shifted as our conceptions regarding the origins of cognitive decline have changed; we now know that most cognitive deterioration occurs independently of arteriosclerotic vascular changes. Substances currently being investigated because of their effects on brain electrophysiology, on neurohumoral processes, or on central neurotransmitters show promise.

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J Gerontol. 1978 Jul;33(4):514-20.
Gerovital-H3: a clinical trial as an antidepressant.
Olsen EJ, Bank L, Jarvik LF.

Twenty-five volunteers, all in their fifth decade or beyond, all with mild to moderate, nonpsychotic depression of at least several months' duration participated in a double-blind study of Gerovital vs placebo. There was no significant difference between the Gerovital and placebo groups; both groups showed significant improvement on self-rating as well as observer rating scales.

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J Am Geriatr Soc. 1977 Jan;25(1):1-19.
The systemic use of procaine in the treatment of the elderly: a review.
Ostfeld A, Smith CM, Stotsky BA.

This article is a review and evaluation of the world literature on the systemic use of procaine in the treatment of the aging process and the common chronic diseases of later life. Included are data from 285 articles and books, describing treatment in more than 100,000 patients in the past 25 years. Except for a possible antidepressant effect, there is no convincing evidence that procaine (or Gerovital, of which procaine is the major component) has any value in the treatment of disease in older patients. If procaine has an antidepressant effect, there is some likelihood that this accounts for the reports of decreased complaints referable to the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine sexual, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems.

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Physiologie. 1979 Jan-Mar;16(1):71-5.
Age differences in the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity of homogenates from the liver of rats. The effect of gerovital H3 on the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.
Cruceanu A, Bucsa L.

Studies on liver homogenates obtained from Wistar rats revealed that the ageing process produces the loss of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and higher values in the thermolabile fraction of this enzyme. The biotrophic treatment with Gerovital H3 has a strong influence upon glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase with tendency to diminish the thermolabile fractions.