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Pick up to three peptides to see how their mechanisms, studied uses and evidence levels differ. Rows where the entries disagree are marked with a blue edge.
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Comparison
Dihexa
Cognitive & neuro
Evidence level
Anecdotal evidence
Approval status
Not approved
Mechanism of action
- 1.A modified dipeptide designed to cross the blood-brain barrier more readily than natural peptides.
- 2.In cell studies it activates the HGF/c-Met pathway, which is involved in synapse formation.
- 3.Rodent studies report new synapses and improved learning after dosing.
- 4.It is far more potent than BDNF in laboratory comparisons, which is the source of most of its reputation.
- 5.None of this has been reproduced in humans, and the growth-factor pathway it activates is also implicated in cancer.
Studied for
- Cognitive enhancement claims
- Synapse formation research in cell and animal models
- Neurodegeneration models
- No human trials exist
Reported effects
- Improved memory and learning in rodent studies
- New synapse formation in cell cultures
- Reported cognitive improvements in user accounts
- No measured human effect
Side effects
- Not studied in humans
- Theoretical cancer risk from growth-factor pathway activation
- Unknown effects on blood pressure and the liver
- Injection-site reactions
Research protocol
Research context only — no human protocol exists and no human pharmacokinetic data have been published. Rodent studies used very small doses in the microgram-per-kilogram range. Schedules circulating online are guesses extrapolated from animals, which is a notoriously unreliable way to set a human dose.
Research context only
Evidence justification
All published evidence comes from rodents and cell cultures; there are no human trials of any kind.