Noopept
Limited human dataAlso known as: GVS-111 · N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester
A synthetic dipeptide developed as a piracetam analogue, sold as a prescription nootropic in Russia for cognitive impairment following stroke and traumatic brain injury. A recurring name in international nootropic-stacking discussions despite thin Western trial data.
Mechanism (plain language)
Proposed to modulate glutamatergic (AMPA/NMDA) signaling and neurotrophic factor pathways; preclinical work also links it to reduced amyloid-beta-related toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation in cell models.
What research suggests
Russian comparative and open-label human studies report improved cognitive test scores in patients with vascular or traumatic mild cognitive impairment, with noopept performing comparably to or better than piracetam at a much lower dose in some comparisons.
Uncertainties & risks
Human trials are concentrated in a small number of Russian research groups and in clinical (post-stroke/TBI) rather than healthy populations; independent replication in healthy users chasing cognitive enhancement is lacking. Not FDA-approved in the US.
STACKD study summaries
Start with our in-house roundups—plain-language synthesis of the research, with primary sources cited at the bottom of each.
Primary sources
Secondary citations for verification. Prefer the STACKD summary above for context before opening these.
- Noopept in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment in patients with stroke
2011 · human
Open prospective study of 60 stroke patients found significant cognitive improvement after 2 months at 20 mg/day.
- A comparative study of noopept and piracetam in the treatment of mild and moderate cognitive impairment in patients with organic brain diseases of vascular and traumatic origin
2008 · human
Comparative trial in vascular/traumatic brain disease patients evaluating noopept against piracetam.