Focus & Mood
Focus and neuroprotection
A neuropeptide used to support focus, memory and brain resilience.
Ships as a freeze-dried powder. Need water to mix it? Add Reconstitution Solution.
The science
Evidence level
3/5
Controlled human trials
Small human imaging and clinical studies plus animal research; large modern controlled trials have not been published.
3×2
rise in BDNF gene activity in rat hippocampus after a single dose
1.6×2
increase in TrkB receptor activation in rat hippocampus
1104
stroke patients in a rehabilitation study tracking BDNF and recovery
Mechanism of action
Targets & pathways
What the research shows
A single dose increased BDNF and TrkB activity in the rat hippocampus, a hub of memory formation.
Placebo-controlled fMRI in 24 healthy volunteers detected default-mode-network changes after intranasal Semax.
In 110 ischemic-stroke patients, Semax raised plasma BDNF and accelerated improvement in daily-function scores.
After focal ischemia in rats, Semax shifted gene expression, with immune-response genes making up over half of the changes.
In a placebo-controlled fMRI study of 24 healthy volunteers, intranasal Semax changed default-mode-network activity.
Effects of Semax on the Default Mode Network of the Brain.
Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2018
PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)A 110-patient stroke-rehabilitation report linked exposure to BDNF and functional measures, with design limitations.
[The efficacy of semax in the tretament of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke].
Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2018
PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)Rat ischemia transcriptomics found altered immune and vascular gene expression.
The peptide semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis.
BMC genomics · 2014
PubMed ↗ (opens in a new tab)Questions
Semax research centers on neurotrophins and network biology; Selank on inhibitory signalling and anxiety-related reports. There is no strong head-to-head evidence here to select one for a general goal.
No. A molecular change must be connected to meaningful human cognitive outcomes in appropriate trials.
A small neural-network observation after intranasal exposure, not proven improved productivity or attention.
This dossier describes research, not an approved indication or a substitute for established urgent care or rehabilitation.
No. Route-specific evidence and formulation must be considered separately.
Focus & Mood