The 'Stronger Than BDNF' Claim

Dihexa's reputation rests on a striking claim: in preclinical memory models, it appeared to be orders of magnitude more potent than BDNF-derived approaches on a per-molecule basis. The discoverers reported it could restore function in models of profound cognitive impairment, which is a much higher bar than 'mild enhancement.'

That claim is the source of both the excitement and the skepticism. The mechanism — HGF/c-Met signaling, a neurotrophic pathway distinct from BDNF — is plausible and well-characterized. But the supporting data are preclinical and limited, and 'orders of magnitude stronger than BDNF' is a claim members discuss with appropriate caution. The thread below is where the evidence gets scrutinized in detail.