FIELD : medicine; pharmaceuticals.SUBSTANCE : invention refers to medicine and chemical-pharmaceutical industry, particularly to a medicinal agent for treating cerebral diseases and to a method of treating and preventing such diseases. As an active ingredient, drug contains 6-methyl-2-ethylpyridine-3-ol(2S)-2-acetaminopentanedioic acid salt in a pharmacologically effective dose for treating and preventing cerebral diseases, in particular, acute cerebral circulation disorders and encephalopathies of various genesis, as well as a method of treating said diseases using said medicinal agent.EFFECT : implementation of inventions widens the range of products for treating cerebral diseases, as well as intensified pharmacological activity with simultaneous reduction of drug load on the patient.8 cl, 7 tbl