Longevity
Humanin
A mitochondrial-derived peptide originally discovered for neuroprotection against Alzheimer's-related cell death, now explored in metabolic and longevity research.
Research chemical Longevity
- Full name
- Humanin (HN)
- Also known as
- HN, HNG (Humanin analog S14G)
- Regulatory status
- Research chemical, no clinical approval. Human interventional data is essentially absent; most evidence is cell-culture and rodent-based.
Origin
Discovered in 2001 in surviving neurons from Alzheimer's disease patients, encoded (like MOTS-c) within mitochondrial DNA. Circulating Humanin levels, like MOTS-c, tend to decline with age.
Mechanism
In preclinical work, Humanin protects cells against a range of stressors by inhibiting apoptotic pathways, and shows insulin-sensitizing and anti-inflammatory effects. It signals partly through a receptor complex shared with other cytoprotective pathways.
Research summary
Evidence
The evidence is mostly preclinical: cell-culture protection against amyloid-beta toxicity (the original Alzheimer's finding), rodent studies showing improved insulin sensitivity and reduced oxidative stress markers, and correlational human data linking higher circulating Humanin to healthier metabolic profiles and, in some cohort studies, to longevity in centenarian populations. No published human interventional trials exist for exogenous Humanin or its more potent synthetic analog HNG.
Evidence tier: Research chemical — see the methodology note for how this is assessed.
Citations
- Detailed characterization of neuroprotection by a rescue factor humanin against various Alzheimer's disease-relevant insults — Hashimoto et al. 2001
- Mechanisms of neuroprotection by a novel rescue factor humanin from Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein — Hashimoto et al. 2001
- Neuroprotective Action of Humanin and Humanin Analogues: Research Findings and Perspectives — Karachaliou and Livaniou 2023
- The Molecular Structure and Role of Humanin in Neural and Skeletal Diseases, and in Tissue Regeneration — Zhu et al. 2022
Reported benefits
- Interest for cognitive/neuroprotective support, though this is extrapolated from cell and animal data rather than demonstrated in humans
- Included in some metabolic-health-focused longevity stacks
- Correlational human data linking naturally higher levels to healthier aging is a talking point, though this doesn't establish that raising levels artificially replicates the benefit
Dosing protocols reported in the literature & community
These are protocols reported by compounding pharmacies, published trials, or self-experimentation communities — not a prescription. Start low, especially for anything new.
| Route | Reported protocol |
|---|---|
| Subcutaneous injection | Not a well-established self-experimentation compound compared to MOTS-c or Epithalon; where it is used, community-reported doses are in the low single-digit mg per week range for the synthetic HNG analog, split across a few injections. Evidence behind any specific number is essentially absent. |
Side effects
- No systematic human safety or side-effect data exists
Safety notes
Community & reddit notes (anecdotal — not clinical evidence)
Discussed far less often than MOTS-c in self-experimentation forums, usually mentioned alongside other mitochondrial-derived peptides in longevity-stack theorizing rather than carrying its own body of user reports.
Related peptides
Mixing compatibility
Pulled from a community-charted mixing-compatibility reference (anecdotal, clinic-use, and community-reported signals) — not a safety guarantee. Verify independently before combining anything.