Interest in the peptide comes primarily from animal research, gut-brain theories, and anecdotal reports
Research interest nonetheless expanded considerably through the 1980s and 1990s, as investigators began exploring DSIP's broader neuroendocrine roles, including its interactions with the HPA axis, circadian timing systems, and stress-response pathways, establishing the compound as a multifunctional regulatory neuropeptide whose biological significance extends well beyond its original sleep-focused characterization
Understanding why researchers pursued this neurotrophic compound for AD, what preclinical evidence showed, and why the clinical translation ultimately failed provides crucial context for anyone evaluating Dihexa's potential
PLoS One 12 , e0171781 (2017)
In contrast, other meta-analyses have found no significant change in HDL levels in response to IF [23, 32]