4 Major Benefits of Supplementing With Noopept
If you’ve explored the world of nootropics and smart drugs, you might have come across Noopept. Noopept is a dipeptide that falls under the umbrella of smart drugs, which are increasing in popularity as people aim to boost mental performance, focus, memory, and more. This article will take a closer look at Noopept, covering what it is, the benefits, and the studies supporting it so you can make an informed decision on whether it’s the right supplement for you.
What is Noopept?
Noopept is a supplement and a synthetic smart drug. It was developed by T.A. Gudasheva at the Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology, which is the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Noopept is similar to piracetam and was developed based on piracetam’s structure. Evidence suggests that piracetam can help blood vessels and brain cells function better. Noopept is more potent than piracetam – up to 1000 times more. As such, it can also be taken at a much lower dose.
To put that into perspective, in one study, some participants were given Noopept while others were given piracetam. The Noopept dosage was 10mg twice per day, while the piracetam dosage was 400mg three times per day.
Noopept is fairly new and still needs to be studied. However, we do know it has a short half-life. In rodent studies, it lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. In studies, Noopept isn’t present in the brain an hour after it’s administered. However, cycloprolylglycine (CPG), one of Noopept’s metabolites, has been shown to be at elevated levels for up to an hour later. This metabolite is what scientists believe is responsible for Noopept’s nootropic functions.
CPG is a dipeptide that is made up of glycine and proline. It acts as a modulator of AMPA receptor function and acetylcholine transmission. Thanks to the effects of CPG in the brain, Noopept can improve learning, cognition, and memory for biohackers. It may also help to improve mood, perception, logical thinking, and reflexes.
Benefits of Noopept
You can see the effects of Noopept specifically in the brain and mental state. It’s important to remember that while Noopept’s effects are promising, more studies, and specifically human clinical trials, need to be done to confirm the supplement’s benefits.
1. Enhances Memory
There is clear evidence that Noopept can stimulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). BDNF and NGF are key proteins that promote brain growth. BDNF, in particular, is vital for long-term memory. It also helps your body with neurogenesis, which is the growth of new neurons from existing neural stem cells. In short, Noopept increases these proteins, which then improve memory.
These effects have been studied via a rodent model of Alzheimer’s disease, in which rats received an injection that mimics Alzheimer’s. The study shows that Noopept improved memory and could act as both a preventative and a treatment for the memory disease.
2. Improves Anxiety and Depression
In one study, participants took 10mg of Noopept twice a day. Each participant had cognitive ailments, ranging from post-traumatic CNS disorders to cerebrovascular disease. The noopept showed to improve the participants’ mood while decreasing anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and apathy. Those with vascular cerebral damage also displayed better wakefulness and sleep. Participants also reported fewer depressive symptoms after treatment.
3. Prevents and Repairs Brain Trauma
In the same study mentioned above, Noopept appeared to effectively aid in the brain’s recovery after physical trauma and vascular damage. There’s also some evidence that noopept may protect against a major constituent of Lewy bodies, which are a pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, Noopept could potentially help protect against stoke by opening potassium channels.
4. Improves Performance
Noopept may also be taken as a supplement to improve overall mental performance. It’s been shown to improve spatial memory, as well as prevent oxidative damage, both of which can enhance cognition.
How to Take Noopept
Noopept is not sold over the counter in the United States. It’s generally sold as a prescription drug in Russia. Since more clinical trials are needed, the correct dosage isn’t clear. However, in one clinical trial, participants took 10 milligrams twice per day. Some studies suggest that it may not be beneficial to take a higher dose, so 10 mg is likely ideal.
Noopept does have some mild side effects. They can include headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, and insomnia. Some people also report a sense of emotional blunting or dulling, in which you feel energized and logical, but experience few emotional lows or highs. It’s also important to keep in mind that we have limited clinical evidence to work with, so all side effects may not be recorded. Still, most people rarely report side effects.
Altogether, Noopept does offer a wide variety of benefits for the brain. It’s especially promising for people with brain trauma and mental conditions, like anxiety or dementia. It could also be useful in preventing memory issues when taken early enough. Ultimately, we need more clinical trials and more data to solidify these benefits. If you’re in search of a way to boost your cognitive performance that is backed by more scientific studies, check out CerebroPep – a brain peptide proven to boost focus, memory, and more.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16277202/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25096780/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12937673/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19234797/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12596521/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4837574/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nootropics#9.-Noopept
https://mybiohack.com/blog/noopept?rq=Noopept
https://www.michaeljfox.org/lrrk2-safety-initiative?alpha-synuclein=