Behavioral and Neuropathological Features of Alzheimer's Disease Are Attenuated in 5xFAD Mice Treated with Intranasal GHK Peptide

Plain-language summary

This 2024 preclinical study from the University of Washington tested intranasal GHK-Cu administered three times weekly for 12 weeks in 5xFAD transgenic mice, a model of Alzheimer's disease. Treated mice showed Y-maze alternation scores comparable to wild-type (non-diseased) mice, as well as fewer amyloid plaques and lower MCP-1 inflammatory staining in the frontal cortex and hippocampus compared to saline-treated controls. These findings suggest GHK-Cu may attenuate key Alzheimer's-related behavioral and neuropathological features in animal models.