01 — Philosophy

How to Think About a Longevity Stack

A longevity protocol is not a single cycle — it is a layered annual architecture where different peptides address different aging mechanisms on different timescales. Some interventions are run continuously (the hormonal foundation), some in long seasonal blocks (mitochondrial and tissue repair), and some in short targeted bursts (telomere and neurological reset).

The organizing principle is non-redundancy and sequencing. Every peptide in the stack hits a mechanistically distinct target. Nothing is doubled up. And the order matters — you lay the metabolic and hormonal foundation first, then layer mitochondrial reset, then structural tissue repair, then neurological maintenance. Epithalon runs as a burst course 2–3× per year across all other layers as the cellular aging anchor.

This stack is not aggressive — it is restorative. The goal is to bring aging systems back toward youthful baseline function, not to supraphysiologically push any single axis. Every peptide here works through the body's own endogenous pathways.

02 — Protocol Architecture

The Four-Tier Stack

01

Foundation Layer

RUN YEAR-ROUND | HORMONAL & CELLULAR BASE

Epithalon

TELOMERE ANCHOR

Telomerase activation — the only compound with published human telomere lengthening data. Restores pineal melatonin and circadian rhythm. Anti-cancer, anti-senescence, lifespan extension across species. The non-negotiable core of any serious longevity protocol.

10–20 days
2–3× per year
Pre-bed SC
5 mg/day
4+ mo between

CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin

GH AXIS FOUNDATION

Restores youthful GH pulse amplitude — drives fat oxidation, lean mass maintenance, deep sleep architecture, IGF-1 mediated tissue repair, and neuroplasticity. The metabolic and recovery foundation all other tiers build upon. Preserves endogenous GH axis unlike rhGH.

3–6 months on
1–2 months off
Pre-bed nightly
200–300 mcg each
Fasted 2–3 hr

02

Mitochondrial Reset Layer

8–12 WEEK BLOCKS | 2× PER YEAR | Q1 AND Q3

SS-31

CARDIOLIPIN PROTECTOR

Binds and protects cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane — restores ETC supercomplex organization and ATP synthesis efficiency. Reverses age-related mitochondrial collapse. Daily dosing essential given short half-life (~30 min).

8–12 weeks
Daily SC
10–30 mg/day
AM preferred
Either fed state

MOTS-c

AMPK ACTIVATOR

Mitochondrial-encoded peptide that activates AMPK — the master metabolic regulator. Drives mitophagy, exercise mimetic effects, fat oxidation, and insulin sensitivity. Centenarian data links MOTS-c levels to exceptional longevity. Non-overlapping with SS-31.

12 weeks
3–5×/week SC
100–300 mcg
AM fasted
Pre-workout

5-Amino-1MQ

NAD⁺ RESTORER

Blocks NNMT in adipose tissue — elevates intracellular NAD⁺ by stopping consumption rather than adding precursors. Activates SIRT1 sirtuins. Improves metabolic flexibility and fat oxidation. Oral route. Completes the three-target mitochondrial reset with SS-31 and MOTS-c.

8–16 weeks
Daily oral
100–200 mg
AM with food
4–8 wk break

03

Tissue & Structural Maintenance Layer

4–12 WEEK CYCLES | Q2 AND Q4 | GLOW OR KLOW PROTOCOL

GHK-Cu

GENE RESET

Modulates 4,000+ genes toward repair and anti-aging expression. Collagen synthesis, SOD antioxidant upregulation, stem cell recruitment, wound healing acceleration. Resets aging fibroblast gene expression toward youthful patterns. Topical continuous; injectable cycles.

12–16 wk inj
5–7×/week SC
1–3 mg/day
AM preferred
Topical: continuous

BPC-157 + TB-500

HEALING PAIR

The foundational healing stack. BPC-157 upregulates GH receptors and orchestrates systemic repair; TB-500 mobilizes cells to injury sites and drives angiogenesis. Together they maintain connective tissue health to support decades of progressive training and daily movement.

4–8 weeks
Daily SC
500 mcg BPC
2–5 mg TB
2–4 wk break

KPV (optional)

INFLAMMATION GATE

Add KPV to upgrade the Glow cycle to Klow — direct NF-κB suppression removes the inflammatory brake on all other tissue repair mechanisms. Essential if gut dysbiosis, IBD, or high systemic inflammatory load is present. Oral preferred for gut targeting.

Add to Glow cycle
Daily oral or SC
500 mcg–1 mg
With food (oral)
Same cycle length

04

Neurological Maintenance Layer

2–4 WEEK CYCLES | 2–3× PER YEAR | BRAIN AGING PREVENTION

Semax

BDNF / NGF / DOPAMINE

Rapid BDNF and NGF upregulation within hours. Dopaminergic potentiation for working memory and executive function. Neuroprotective against ischemia and excitotoxicity. The cognitive activation arm of the neuro pair.

2–4 weeks
Daily AM only
100–300 mcg
N-Ac Amidate
Nasal preferred

Selank

GABA / BDNF / ENKEPHALIN

GABAergic normalization without sedation, BDNF upregulation, serotonin modulation, stress resilience. The anxiolytic and sleep quality arm of the neuro pair. Smooths Semax's stimulating quality. The canonical Russian neuropeptide combination.

2–4 weeks
AM + Pre-bed
250–500 mcg
SC or nasal
2–4 wk break

03 — Annual Calendar

The Longevity Year — Quarterly Sequencing

Q1

JANUARY — MARCH

CJC/Ipamorelin — nightly pre-bed (continuous)

SS-31 + MOTS-c + 5-Amino-1MQ — 10–12 week mitochondrial reset block

Epithalon Course 1 — 10–20 days in January, pre-bed (post-new year biological reset)

FOCUS: Metabolic foundation + full mitochondrial reset to open the year. Mito block runs through Feb–March.

Q2

APRIL — JUNE

CJC/Ipamorelin — nightly pre-bed (continuous)

Glow / Klow Cycle — GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500 (± KPV), 4–8 weeks

Semax + Selank — 2–4 week neuro cycle, April

Epithalon Course 2 — spring equinox timing (Khavinson protocol), pre-bed

FOCUS: Structural tissue repair + skin + neuro maintenance. Epithalon timed to spring equinox per original Russian clinical protocol.

Q3

JULY — SEPTEMBER

CJC/Ipamorelin — nightly pre-bed (continuous)

SS-31 + MOTS-c + 5-Amino-1MQ — second mitochondrial reset block, 10–12 weeks

Semax + Selank — second neuro cycle, August

FOCUS: Mid-year mitochondrial reset. Maintains metabolic gains from Q1 block. Neuro cycle timed mid-summer when cognitive demands and performance goals are high.

Q4

OCTOBER — DECEMBER

CJC/Ipamorelin — nightly pre-bed (continuous)

Glow / Klow Cycle — second tissue and skin maintenance cycle, 4–8 weeks

Epithalon Course 3 — autumn equinox timing (Khavinson protocol), pre-bed

FOCUS: Year-end structural repair and cellular reset. Autumn Epithalon course closes the year with telomere protection and circadian normalization heading into winter.

CJC/Ipamorelin runs as the continuous year-round foundation with 1–2 month breaks built in during peptide-dense cycle blocks if needed. Epithalon's spring and autumn timing follows Khavinson's original protocols aligning with neuroendocrine reset points. The mitochondrial blocks and Glow/Klow cycles alternate quarters so you never run both simultaneously — allowing clear attribution of effects and preventing biomarker noise.

04 — Dosing Reference

Full Stack Dosing at a Glance

Peptide	Dose	Route	Frequency	Timing	Cycle
Epithalon	5 mg	SC	Daily (course)	Pre-bed	10–20 days, 2–3×/yr
CJC-1295	200–300 mcg	SC	Daily	Pre-bed fasted	3–6 mo on / 1–2 mo off
Ipamorelin	200–300 mcg	SC	Daily	Pre-bed fasted	Same as CJC
SS-31	10–30 mg	SC	Daily	AM	8–12 wk, 2×/yr
MOTS-c	100–300 mcg	SC	3–5×/week	AM fasted / pre-WO	12 wk, 2×/yr
5-Amino-1MQ	100–200 mg	Oral	Daily	AM with food	8–16 wk, 2×/yr
GHK-Cu	1–3 mg	SC + topical	5–7×/wk (inj)	AM	12–16 wk, 2×/yr
BPC-157	250–500 mcg	SC	Daily	AM	4–8 wk, 2×/yr
TB-500	2–5 mg	SC	2–3×/wk load, 1×/wk maintain	AM	6–8 wk, 2×/yr
Semax (N-Ac Amid)	100–300 mcg	Nasal	Daily	AM only	2–4 wk, 2–3×/yr
Selank	250–500 mcg	SC or nasal	Daily	AM + pre-bed	2–4 wk, 2–3×/yr

05 — Monitoring

Annual Biomarker Panel

Run a comprehensive baseline before starting the protocol. Retest at 6 months and 12 months. Specific biomarkers should also be tested at the start and end of each individual cycle block.

▸ Biological Age & Longevity

Biomarker	Test	Clinical	Optimal Goal
Telomere Length Primary Epithalon marker	LifeLength / Teloyears	CLINICALDeclines with age	GOALAt or above median; lengthening trend year-over-year
Biological Age	TruAge / DunedinPACE	CLINICALWithin ±5 yrs chronological	GOAL5–10 yrs below chronological; slowing pace annually
IGF-1	Serum IGF-1	CLINICAL115–355 ng/mL	GOALUpper third of age range (~200–300 ng/mL) — CJC/Ipam response

▸ Mitochondrial Function

Biomarker	Test	Clinical	Optimal Goal
NAD⁺ (whole blood)	Jinfiniti Intracellular NAD⁺	CLINICALNo standard reference	GOAL>40 µM; expect increase on 5-Amino-1MQ
CoQ10 (Ubiquinol)	Plasma CoQ10	CLINICAL0.4–1.9 µg/mL	GOAL1.5–3.5 µg/mL; trending up on SS-31 + MOTS-c
GDF-15 Mitochondrial stress	Serum GDF-15	CLINICAL<1200 pg/mL	GOAL<400 pg/mL; declining trend indicates mito improvement
Resting Lactate	Serum Lactate	CLINICAL0.5–2.2 mmol/L	GOAL0.5–1.0 mmol/L

▸ Inflammation & Oxidative Stress

Biomarker	Test	Clinical	Optimal Goal
hsCRP	High-sensitivity CRP	CLINICAL<3.0 mg/L	GOAL<0.5 mg/L
IL-6	Serum IL-6	CLINICAL<7.0 pg/mL	GOAL<1.5 pg/mL
8-OHdG	Urine 8-OHdG	CLINICAL<15 ng/mg creatinine	GOAL<5 ng/mg creatinine

▸ Hormonal & Sleep

Biomarker	Test	Clinical	Optimal Goal
Nocturnal Melatonin Epithalon pineal marker	Urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin	CLINICALDeclines with age	GOALUpper quartile for age; increasing on Epithalon
GH (fasting)	Serum Growth Hormone	CLINICALM: <5 / F: <10 ng/mL	GOALMonitor via IGF-1 — do not exceed upper age reference
TSH / Free T3	Thyroid panel	CLINICALTSH 0.4–4.0 mIU/L	GOALTSH 1.0–2.5; Free T3 upper third of range

▸ Neurotrophins

Biomarker	Test	Clinical	Optimal Goal
BDNF	Serum BDNF (fasting AM)	CLINICAL~10,000–30,000 pg/mL	GOALUpper half of lab range; trending up on Semax cycles

▸ Safety (Full Panel — Run Annually)

Biomarker	Test	Clinical	Optimal Goal
AST / ALT	CMP	CLINICALAST 10–40 / ALT 7–56 U/L	GOALAST <26 / ALT <26 U/L
CBC with differential	Complete Blood Count	CLINICALStandard ranges	GOALMid-range; WBC 4.5–6.0; stable across the year
Lipid Panel (advanced)	apoB, LDL-P, TG, HDL	CLINICALStandard lipid references	GOALapoB <60 / TG <80 / HDL >60
Fasting Glucose / Insulin	Fasting glucose + insulin	CLINICALGlucose 70–99 / Insulin 2–25	GOALGlucose 75–90 / Insulin 2–6 / HOMA-IR <1.0

⚠ This protocol is not FDA-approved. Individual peptide contraindications apply — particularly angiogenesis caution (BPC-157, TB-500, VEGF) in anyone with cancer history. IGF-1 must stay within the upper-normal age reference — not supraphysiologic. All individual peptide decks contain specific contraindications, dosing notes, and side effect profiles. Work with a qualified practitioner experienced in peptide therapy and longevity medicine. Biomarkers should be tracked quarterly minimum.

06 — Summary

Longevity Stack at a Glance

LONGEVITY STACK — ANNUAL PROTOCOL

4 Tiers · 11 Peptides · 8 Aging Hallmarks Addressed · Year-Round Architecture

4 Tiers

ARCHITECTURE

11

PEPTIDES TOTAL

Year-Round

CJC / IPAM BASE

2× / yr

MITO RESET

2–3× / yr

EPITHALON

Q2 + Q4

GLOW / KLOW

2–3× / yr

NEURO CYCLE

Quarterly

BIOMARKERS