Longevity · Research Phase
Humanin
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
A 24-amino acid mitochondrial-derived peptide whose coding sequence is nearly identical to a region of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Humanin acts as a ligand for the FPRL1 and FPRL2 receptors, interferes with Bax activation to suppress apoptosis, and interacts with IGFBP-3 (PMID 21098860).
It was discovered as a factor that blocked neuronal death caused by familial Alzheimer's disease genes and amyloid-beta in cell culture (PMID 11371646).
02 · Research summary & key findings
Discovered in 2001 as a rescue factor against Alzheimer's disease-related neuronal death in vitro (Hashimoto et al., PNAS, 2001) (PMID 11371646). Circulating humanin levels decline with age in mice and humans and are reduced by GH and IGF-I (PMID 25040290). Humanin improved cognition in aged mice, and a humanin gene variant linked to lower circulating levels was associated with faster cognitive aging in older adults (PMID 30242290). In a case-control study, humanin transcript levels were lower in Alzheimer's disease, but plasma protein levels did not discriminate disease stages (PMID 41303353). Therapeutic evidence is preclinical only.
03 · Regulatory status
Humanin is in the research phase with limited clinical data in humans. Current evidence is primarily derived from preclinical (animal or in vitro) studies.
No lawful pathway today
Humanin is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding. If you are working on the goal it is studied for, a licensed clinician can tell you what is lawfully available, which may be something else.
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Looking for a lawful, clinician-prescribed option for longevity and healthy ageing?
Humanin is a research compound, is not FDA-approved, and has no lawful US compounding pathway, so we do not offer it and no clinician we work with will prescribe it. Products sold online as “research chemicals” are not made or tested to the standards required of medicines. If you are working on longevity and healthy ageing, a licensed clinician can tell you at a free consultation whether an FDA-approved or lawfully compounded treatment fits you, or whether nothing does.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
- Intravenous
References
- [1]A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and Abeta Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2001. PMID 11371646
- [2]Humanins, the neuroprotective and cytoprotective peptides with antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties Pharmacol Rep, 2010. PMID 21098860
- [3]IGF-I regulates the age-dependent signaling peptide humanin Aging Cell, 2014. PMID 25040290
- [4]Humanin Prevents Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Mice and is Associated with Improved Cognitive Age in Humans Sci Rep, 2018. PMID 30242290
- [5]Insights into the Biomarker Potential of Humanin and Mots-c Expression and Telomere Length in Alzheimer's Disease Int J Mol Sci, 2025. PMID 41303353
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Humanin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Humanin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Humanin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.