P-21
P-21 (P021) is an experimental hexapeptide (Ac-DGGLAG-NH2) derived from a bioactive region of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and chemically modified with adamantane for blood-brain-barrier penetration, studied exclusively in preclinical rodent models of learning, memory, and neurodegeneration with no human trials to date.
This page is a research-orientation summary, not a dosing guide. For anything beyond general background, read the primary literature or talk to a qualified clinician — specifics like amount, frequency, or administration aren't something we publish here.
What it does & how it works
P-21 is designed to mimic a functional fragment of CNTF and has been reported to competitively interfere with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signaling, which in turn is proposed to relieve inhibition of neural progenitor cell formation, alongside reported upregulation of BDNF expression. Downstream, it is reported to engage JAK/STAT3, MAPK, and Akt signaling cascades associated with neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuroprotection in rodent brain tissue.
Typical results seen in research
In mouse studies, peripherally administered P-21 has been reported to enhance learning and both short-term and spatial reference memory in normal adult animals, and to increase neurogenesis and maturation of newly born neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. All available evidence comes from rodent models; there is no published human safety or efficacy data, so any cognitive-enhancement claims for people are extrapolations beyond the current evidence.
How it’s commonly used
P-21 has been administered peripherally (via injection) in the rodent studies that constitute its evidence base; because no human trials exist, there is no established or approved human route of administration.
- FEBS Letters · 2010 Neurotrophic peptides incorporating adamantane improve learning and memory, promote neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in mice
Curated from published literature for research orientation. Not an exhaustive review, and not a substitute for reading primary sources.