The 4+ Benefits Of Peptide 6 (P6)
By Jacob Gordon, INHC, FMT-CPeptide 6 is a peptide that can enhance neurogenesis and help with many neurocognitive disorders.
Basics
Peptide 6 (P6) is a small molecule that is based off of ciliary neurotropic factor (CNTF), with neurogenic and neurotrophic properties in mouse models of Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injuries, autism spectrum disorders, and down syndrome. R
Benefits
1. Helps With Neurogenesis
In mice, P6 increases neurogenesis in the brain (partially through inhibiting LIF, which is known to inhibit neurogenesis). R
Hippocampal neuronal loss accompanies >80% of fatal tramautic brain injuries (TBI) and cell death in the hippocampus can be observed up to 12 months following TBI. R
In mice that had TBI, 30-day administration of P6 prevented neuronal loss in the hippocampus. R
2. Helps With Alzheimer's Disease
Neuronal loss in CA1 and parietal cortex are common problems with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), increasing tau and amyloid beta. R
In mice with TBI-induced tau and amyloid beta, P6 prevented neuronal loss in the CA1 and parietal cortex. R
It also helped restore dendritic and synaptic density in those areas (via Peptide 6's ability to inhibit LIF activity). R
In mice with AD, P6 restored cognition by enhancing neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity. R
In another study, cerebrolysin (CBL), P6 and 6A all potentiate neurogenesis in the mice with AβPP. R
3. Helps With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized clinically by impairments in social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication skills as well as restricted interests and repetitive behavior. R
In rats that were given sera (blood) from ASD children, P6 was able to prevent cell death and oxidative stress. R
It also rescued rat pups from developmental delays that are normally caused by ASD children's sera. R
In these mice, P6 was able to increase social exploration, grooming, and vocaalization (such as USVs). R
P6 also increased blood levels of BDNF and CNTF, helping protect against neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation . R
4. Helps With Down Syndrome
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the triplication of È240 proteincoding genes on chromosome 21 and is the most prevalent form of developmental disability. R
The DS brain exhibits degeneration of cortical neurons, profound dendritic and synaptic abnormalities, and a hypocellular hippocampus and cerebral cortex.
In mice with DS, P6 helped improve cognitive function and reduced memory impairment through increased hippocampal growth. R
Mechanism Of Action
P6 works similarly to CNTF, but is much smaller and has less side effects. R
An even smaller version of P6 is Peptide 021 (P21). R
Adding an adamantylated glycine group to P6 to enhance its blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability makes P21. R
P6 inhibits leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) activity and CNTF/JAK/STAT3 signaling. R
LIF is known to inhibit neurogenesis and promote self-renewal of the early, mostly gliagenic, progenitor cells. R
It also increases EGR-1 gene expression in the brain. R
It has a plasma half-life of over 6 hours. R
P6:
Caveats
More Research
- Peptide 6-treated I2NTF-CTF rats showed a significant increase in dendritic and synaptic density as reflected by increased expression of synapsin I, synaptophysin and MAP2, especially in the pyramidal neurons of CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus. R
Jacob Gordon
INHC, FMT-C
Board Certified Health Coach
I spent years battling unexplained chronic illness before discovering biohacking, epigenetics, and functional medicine. Now I share that research at MyBioHack to help others find their own answers.
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Lion's Mane
1000mg/day
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2g/day
Phosphatidylserine
100mg 3x/day






