Brain, memory and mood
Is there anything real for memory and focus?
The category with the widest gap between what is claimed and what has been measured in people. Several compounds here have genuine human trials. Several have a dish and a press release.
30 compounds studied for this · 6 with three or more human studies cited · 8 with none
Three or more human studies cited 6
The deepest human evidence on this site for this goal. That is a statement about how much has been measured, not about whether it will work for you.
Resveratrol
14 citedThe polyphenol behind the sirtuin era of longevity research and one of the most heavily trialled supplements in this dat...
LongevityHumanin
5 citedA mitochondrial-derived peptide with a genuine human observational record: it declines with age, runs high in children o...
LongevityTesamorelin
4 citedAn FDA-approved GHRH analogue that reduces visceral fat, now also studied for cognition in older adults at Alzheimer's r...
Growth HormoneNAC
3 citedA glutathione precursor that is FDA-approved as a mucolytic and antidote for acetaminophen overdose, and studied more br...
AntioxidantTrontinemab
3 citedRoche's anti-amyloid antibody with a transferrin-receptor 'shuttle' that cleared amyloid in 91% of patients within seven...
Nootropic & CNSMethylene Blue
3 citedAn FDA-approved antidote for methemoglobinemia that biohackers take at low doses for mitochondrial energy and focus; the...
AntioxidantOne or two human studies cited 16
Something has been run in people, and it is a thin base. The count is on each card so you can see exactly how thin.
Oxytocin
2 citedA natural hormone that is FDA-approved for labor and is also studied, with mixed results, for social, bonding, and psych...
HormoneDavunetide
2 citedA neuroprotective peptide fragment studied in humans for neurodegenerative disease, with a failed pivotal trial but ongo...
Nootropic & CNSGlyNAC
2 citedA combination of glycine and NAC studied in older adults for restoring glutathione and improving multiple markers of agi...
AntioxidantRemternetug
2 citedLilly's next-generation, self-injected successor to donanemab designed for at-home injection, with a Phase 3 that comple...
Nootropic & CNSBuntanetap
2 citedAn oral drug that lowers production of amyloid, tau and alpha-synuclein at once, now in an 850-patient Alzheimer's Phase...
Nootropic & CNSNNZ-2591
2 citedAn oral IGF-1 metabolite mimic from the makers of trofinetide (Daybue), in the first-ever Phase 3 for Phelan-McDermid sy...
Nootropic & CNSSemax
1 citedA synthetic heptapeptide approved in Russia for stroke and cognitive disorders, studied for BDNF-driven neuroprotection.
Nootropic & CNSSelank
1 citedA synthetic anxiolytic peptide developed in Russia, studied for anxiety and mild cognitive effects without sedation.
Nootropic & CNSCerebrolysin
1 citedA standardized mixture of neuropeptides used clinically in many countries for stroke, dementia, and TBI.
Nootropic & CNSNoopept
1 citedA proline-containing dipeptide nootropic approved in Russia, studied for mild cognitive impairment and neuroprotection.
Nootropic & CNSCortexin
1 citedA mixture of low-molecular-weight brain peptides used in Russia for stroke, brain injury, and cognitive disorders.
Nootropic & CNSPinealon
1 citedA short synthetic peptide bioregulator from the Khavinson group studied for brain protection and cognition.
Nootropic & CNSSpermidine
1 citedA natural polyamine that induces autophagy, linked in population studies to lower mortality and studied for cardiovascul...
LongevityRTR242
1 citedThe first clinical drug from Retro Biosciences, the Sam Altman-backed longevity company: an oral, brain-penetrant molecu...
Nootropic & CNSOrexin-A
1 citedThe wakefulness neuropeptide, sold as a nasal spray for alertness after a primate study showed intranasal delivery rever...
Nootropic & CNSN-Acetyl Semax Amidate
1 citedA terminally modified analog of Semax sold as a more stable, longer-acting nasal spray; no published study of the amidat...
Nootropic & CNSNo human study cited here 8
Studied in other species or in cell culture, or studied in people for something else entirely. Listed rather than hidden, because knowing a thing has not been tested in a person is the useful part.
Dihexa
none citedAn experimental angiotensin-derived peptide reported to be an extremely potent promoter of new synapse formation in anim...
Nootropic & CNSP21
none citedA small peptide derived from a neurotrophic factor studied for promoting new neuron growth and protecting against Alzhei...
Nootropic & CNSPE-22-28
none citedAn experimental peptide studied for rapid antidepressant effects and neurogenesis by blocking a potassium channel in the...
Nootropic & CNSDSIP
none citedA naturally occurring peptide studied for sleep, stress resilience, and pain, with limited and inconsistent human eviden...
Nootropic & CNSFGL
none citedA peptide derived from a neural cell adhesion molecule studied in animals for memory, plasticity, and neuroprotection.
Nootropic & CNSCMS-121
none citedA Salk Institute fisetin derivative described as a 'geroneuroprotector' that improved memory and reduced brain lipid dam...
Nootropic & CNSCortagen
none citedA four amino acid Khavinson bioregulator sold as the defined-sequence cousin of Cortexin for brain recovery; animal data...
Nootropic & CNSGB-115
none citedA Russian orally active dipeptide anxiolytic acting on the cholecystokinin system, launched by Western vendors in 2026 a...
Nootropic & CNSFasting worth reading alongside this
What the number counts, exactly
The figure on each card is the number of citations on that compound’s page whose study type is Human. It is counted the same mechanical way for all 192 compounds and you can check any of it by opening the profile and reading the citation list, which is the whole point of publishing a number at all.
It is a count of what we cite, not a claim about how much research exists. A compound with three human studies here may have thirty in the literature, and the honest thing to say is that we have read and listed three. It is also not a quality score: three small open-label studies count the same as three randomised trials, so the tiers tell you how much was measured in people and the page itself tells you how well.