Cognitive & Neurologic Research

Neurotrophic signalling, memory and attention endpoints, neuroprotection, and neuroinflammation.

Often described colloquially as “Cognitive support”. We use research terminology because the colloquial phrasing implies an outcome the evidence often does not support.

2 graded claims2 with human evidence2 compounds

Compounds

Examined in this research area

CPreliminary

Semax

Registered as a medicine in its originating jurisdiction. The evidence base is concentrated there and has limited independent replication.

CPreliminary

Selank

An anxiolytic candidate with short trials in its originating jurisdiction and limited independent replication.

Evidence

Claims in this area, strongest first

Ordered by evidence level so that the state of the field is visible at a glance rather than buried.

Semax

CPreliminaryVery low confidenceHuman evidence

Semax has been reported in its originating jurisdiction's literature to improve neurological recovery and cognitive measures.

What is not established

Single-jurisdiction evidence base with limited independent replication and limited Western indexing.

Supporting sources (2)

Randomised controlled trialHuman Identifier verified

Semax in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke

Multiple · Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2018 · n = 110

Population: Adults with acute ischaemic stroke
Endpoint: Neurological recovery scales
Route: Intranasal
Quantity as reported: 6000 µg per day. The publication does not state how that amount was divided across administrations.
Frequency: Divided across the day; the number of administrations is not stated
Duration: 6 weeks

Result. The publication reports favourable neurological outcomes against control.

Adverse events. Limited systematic reporting.

Limitations. The reported figure is a per-day amount, and this site's protocols require a per-administration figure. Because the division is not stated, no protocol quantity on this site is attributed to this trial. It is catalogued so the gap is visible rather than filled by guessing.

PMID29798983

Randomised controlled trialHumanNo verified identifier on file

Semax in cognitive and cerebrovascular research

Multiple · Predominantly Russian-language neurology literature · 2011

Population: Adults with ischaemic stroke or cognitive complaints in the originating programme
Endpoint: Neurological recovery scales and cognitive measures
Route: Intranasal
Quantity as reported: Intranasal formulations as registered in the originating jurisdiction
Frequency: Daily

Result. The originating literature reports favourable neurological outcomes.

Adverse events. Limited systematic reporting.

Limitations. Evidence is concentrated in one jurisdiction's literature, with limited independent replication and limited indexing in Western databases.

Search PubMed for this literature →

Last evidence review: 2026-08-23

Selank

CPreliminaryVery low confidenceHuman evidence

Selank has been reported in short trials in its originating jurisdiction to reduce anxiety ratings.

What is not established

Short duration, single jurisdiction, limited replication.

Supporting sources (2)

Randomised controlled trialHuman Identifier verified

Selank in the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder and neurasthenia

Zozulia AA, Neznamov GG, Siuniakov TS, et al. · Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2008 · n = 62

Population: Adults with generalised anxiety disorder or neurasthenia
Endpoint: Anxiety rating scales against a medazepam comparator
Route: Intranasal
Quantity as reported: Not stated. The published abstract reports no amount, concentration, route detail or frequency.
Frequency: Not stated

Result. Anxiolytic effect reported as comparable to the benzodiazepine comparator.

Adverse events. Limited systematic reporting.

Limitations. The identifier is real and the trial exists. The quantity does not appear in the published record at all, so there is no study arm on this site to attribute a Selank figure to.

PMID18454096

Randomised controlled trialHumanNo verified identifier on file

Selank in anxiety and cognitive research

Multiple · Predominantly Russian-language psychiatry literature · 2008

Population: Adults with generalised anxiety in the originating programme
Endpoint: Anxiety rating scales
Route: Intranasal
Quantity as reported: Intranasal formulation as registered in the originating jurisdiction
Frequency: Daily
Duration: 2 weeks

Result. The originating literature reports anxiolytic effect comparable to a benzodiazepine comparator.

Adverse events. Limited systematic reporting.

Limitations. Single-jurisdiction evidence base, limited independent replication, short duration.

Search PubMed for this literature →

Last evidence review: 2026-08-23