Neuroprotection

Overview

Neuroprotective peptides shield neurons from oxidative damage, excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and ischemia. They also support the conditions necessary for repair: adequate blood flow, neurotrophic factor availability, and mitochondrial integrity. This category overlaps with cognitive enhancement but emphasizes disease prevention and recovery from acute neurological events rather than performance enhancement in healthy individuals.

Recommended Peptides

BPC-157 – crosses blood-brain barrier; reduces neuroinflammation, protects dopaminergic neurons, and accelerates nerve regeneration; useful after TBI and ischemic events
Semax – potent BDNF upregulator; approved in Russia for stroke and traumatic brain injury; acutely neuroprotective via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms
SS-31 – mitochondria-targeted antioxidant; reduces ROS production and preserves neuronal mitochondrial function under stress conditions
Cerebrolysin – multimodal neuropeptide mixture; reduces apoptosis, promotes BDNF, and approved for stroke recovery and dementia in 50+ countries
PE-22-28 – TREK-1 inhibitor with antidepressant and neuroprotective properties; rapidly penetrates CNS
Pinealon – pineal bioregulator that protects against oxidative neuronal damage and supports DNA repair in neurons
Humanin – mitochondrial-derived peptide; potently protects neurons from amyloid-beta toxicity and oxidative damage; declines with age
NAD+ – cofactor essential for neuronal energy metabolism and DNA repair via PARP and sirtuin pathways; SubQ administration bypasses gut absorption issues

Protocols

Related Conditions

Research Summary

Semax increases BDNF protein levels in rat basal forebrain within 3 hours of intranasal administration (PMID-16635254). Genome-wide transcriptional analysis shows Semax primarily upregulates immune and vascular genes in ischemic brain (PMID-24661604). BPC-157 counteracts stroke, TBI, and spinal cord injury in preclinical models (PMID-34380875). SS-31 (elamipretide) improves ADP sensitivity in aged mitochondria (PMID-37462785).

#condition #neurological