Side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, interactions, and stacking potential.
| Dihexa | NSI-189 | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Peptides | Nootropics |
| Standard Dose | Research indicates 10-20 mg daily via oral or sublingual administration. | 40 mg once daily (for educational context — investigational compound, not approved for any indication) |
| Timing | Morning dosing preferred. Can be taken with or without food (orally active). | Once daily, time of day not definitively established from clinical data. With or without food. |
| Cycle Duration | 2-4 week cycles with equal rest periods. Long-term safety data is extremely limited. | Phase 2 trial used 12-week treatment duration. Long-term safety data unavailable. |
| Evidence Level | animal_plus_anecdotal | moderate_human |
Dihexa (N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6)-aminohexanoic amide) is an orally active, blood-brain barrier-permeable oligopeptide derived from angiotensin IV. It binds hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) with high affinity, inhibiting HGF dimerization and synergistically promoting c-Met receptor phosphorylation and signaling. Activation of HGF/c-Met drives procognitive effects through increased dendritic arborization, spinogenesis, and synaptogenesis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Research indicates it is approximately 10 million times more potent than BDNF for new synapse formation.
Research indicates 10-20 mg daily via oral or sublingual administration.
Morning dosing preferred. Can be taken with or without food (orally active).
2-4 week cycles with equal rest periods. Long-term safety data is extremely limited.
Benzylpiperizine-aminopyridine compound that stimulates neurogenesis of human hippocampus-derived neural stem cells in vitro and increases hippocampal volume in vivo. Mechanism is independent of serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibition — fundamentally distinct from traditional antidepressants. Activates the TrkB receptor (BDNF receptor) and downstream Akt/PI3K signaling pathways to promote synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation, and neuronal survival. Enhances BDNF expression in hippocampal subregions critical for memory consolidation and mood regulation. Originally developed as ALTO-100 (Alto Neuroscience) for treatment-resistant depression with cognitive impairment.
40 mg once daily (for educational context — investigational compound, not approved for any indication)
Once daily, time of day not definitively established from clinical data. With or without food.
Phase 2 trial used 12-week treatment duration. Long-term safety data unavailable.
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