Not medical advice. Talk to your provider before using any peptide.
Full disclaimerBest Peptides for Anti-Aging
Peptide Schedule Research Team
The most effective peptides for longevity, skin rejuvenation, and cellular age reversal — from telomere protection to mitochondrial repair and collagen stimulation.
Expert Protocols
Verified protocols from researchers, physicians, and creators who have publicly disclosed their dosing.
Four aging mechanisms in one 30-day protocol: mitochondria, telomeres, immune, and senescent cell clearance.
Project Blueprint protocol. Epithalon 10mg + TA-1 1.5mg IM for 5 days, every 6 months. Khavinson protocol.
Endocrinologist who calls Epithalon his "#1 longevity peptide." 5mg daily for 10 days, 2x/year.
Biochemist with 30 years in peptides. Non-standard Epithalon long-cycle: 100mg total over 20-30 days.
Epithalon
The only peptide that directly activates telomerase to lengthen telomeres — the protective caps on chromosomes that shorten with age. Short intensive cycles (10-20 days) produce effects that last months. Over 20 years of research from Dr. Vladimir Khavinson's lab.
- Direct telomerase activation — unique mechanism
- Short cycles with lasting effects
- Normalizes melatonin production
- Over 20 years of research
- Preclinical data primarily from Russian literature
- Effects are subtle and long-term
- No FDA approval or Western clinical trials
SS-31 (Elamipretide)
SS-31 (Elamipretide) is FDA-approved for Barth syndrome and targets the inner mitochondrial membrane directly. It stabilizes cardiolipin to restore electron transport chain efficiency, reducing oxidative stress at the source. It's the only FDA-approved peptide that addresses aging at the mitochondrial level — the strongest regulatory standing of any anti-aging peptide.
- FDA-approved (for Barth syndrome)
- Directly targets mitochondria — not a scavenger
- Reduces ROS at the point of generation
- Clinical trial data in humans (TAZPOWER)
- FDA approval is narrow (Barth syndrome, not anti-aging)
- Limited availability outside clinical settings
- Expensive
GHK-Cu
The most versatile anti-aging peptide. GHK-Cu stimulates collagen/elastin production, activates 4,000+ repair genes, promotes wound healing, and supports hair regrowth. Available both as injectable and topical — the topical form is the easiest entry point.
- Injectable and topical formulations
- Visible skin improvements within weeks
- Hair regrowth support
- Extensive gene expression research
- Short half-life (~1 hour)
- Avoid with copper sensitivity
- Topical effects are slower than injectable
NAD+
NAD+ is a critical coenzyme for cellular energy production and DNA repair. Levels decline 50% by age 60. Supplementing NAD+ restores mitochondrial function and activates sirtuins — longevity-associated proteins. Phase 2 human data exists for NAD+ supplementation.
- Restores cellular energy production
- Activates sirtuin longevity pathways
- Improves cognitive function and reduces brain fog
- Supports DNA repair — Phase 2 human data
- IV/SC injections can sting
- Expensive for regular use
- Optimal dosing still being researched
MOTS-c
A mitochondria-derived peptide encoded directly in mitochondrial DNA — one of the few known natural signaling molecules produced by mitochondria. MOTS-c acts as an "exercise mimetic," activating AMPK to improve insulin sensitivity and fatty acid oxidation. Endogenous levels decline with age, and supplementation may counteract age-related metabolic decline.
- Exercise mimetic — activates AMPK without training
- Encoded in mitochondrial DNA (endogenous signaling)
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Endogenous levels drop with age — replacement logic
- Preclinical data only
- Primarily metabolic, not cosmetic anti-aging
- Limited human dosing data
Head-to-Head Comparisons
See how these ranked peptides compare side by side.
Need to calculate a dose for any peptide? Use the dosage calculator
How We Ranked These
Ranked by mechanism specificity for aging pathways (telomeres, mitochondria, gene expression, metabolic), FDA approval status, research depth, and practical accessibility. Peptides targeting fundamental aging processes score highest.
Beginner Recommendation
Start with Epithalon (short cycle) + GHK-Cu (daily) + NAD+. This covers telomeres, gene expression, and cellular energy — the three pillars of anti-aging.
View Anti-Aging Stack→