We’re doing several off-the-reservation kinds of things in the hopes of preventing or at least delaying cognitive decline: (1) tadalafil (pde5 inhibitor) to increase blood perfusion to the brain (2) lithium orotate 5 mg (3) intra nasal insulin to improve glucose usage in the brain (4) starting to take some coconut oil and MCT to provide ketones to the brain.
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wow our body only makes like 0.2 mg or something of it naturally daily.
i take it daily too before sleep but i take very little only like 0.2mg.
if i take even 1mg i feel groggy the whole of the next day
Really interesting post. Have you kept going Donepezil?
And has anyone tried Huperzine A?
From Gemini: “Potency: In animal studies, it was found to be more potent than donepezil in increasing cortical acetylcholine levels when compared in molar terms”
I have been taking huperzine A for decades. I take it in the morning. I have tried taking it before bedtime, because, like donepezil and galantamine, it is supposed to affect dreams.
It did perhaps produce more vivid dreams, but I did not like the effect it had on my sleep.
As for donepezil, I found I did not like it either taken right before bedtime. Because I failed to take a deep dive or forgot the properties of huperzine A, taking huperzine A with donepezil was redundant, one of the hazards of polypharmacy.
I was surprised to find that huperzine A is a prescription drug in China.
Huperzine A has no immediate subjective effects when taken in the morning, but huperzine A has been one of my go-tos for brain fog. I think it takes about 30 days, from my experience, for it to have a noticeable effect.
Gemini:
Huperzine A is a potent inhibitor of acetyl-cholinesterase. In fact, it is significantly more selective and substantially less toxic than the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors currently used in conventional medicine (e.g., physostigmineacetylcholinesterase., tacrine, and donepezil)
- Mechanism: It acts as a potent, highly specific, and reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, increasing levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Usage: It is marketed as a memory and concentration enhancer and has been investigated as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
- REF
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Update on switching from 0.4% microsphere tretinoin to 0.5% tazarotene:
I’m noticing a more significant anti-aging effect from tazarotene every other night than using microsphere tretinoin as many night as I can.
Every 2nd night that I’m not using tazarotene I’m using 2% salicylic acid on my nose and 8% glycolic acid on the rest of my face. This exfoliates, unclogs pores and stimulates collagen production through a different mechanism.
At first my face was more red than when I was using tretinoin, and I had more dry skin. But this quickly calmed down and now I’m waking up the day after using these things and finding my face isn’t really red, my pores look smaller and my skin looks a bit nicer.
This is the acid products I use, I think these are the best ones available on the market:
Salicylic acid: SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant | Paula's Choice Australia
Glycolic acid: 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant | Paula's Choice Australia
Also sometimes instead of those acids I instead mix estradiol gel or estriol gel into moisturizer and put this all over my face. This is reserved for when my skin is particularly irritated (usually from retinoids). Estradiol and estriol are proven to also increase collagen synthesis.
I could probably include this more often if I mix it with moisturizer and put it on before applying retinoids. I might start doing this in the future to get more results.
But I’m just noticing my skin is looking better, and this is in spite of losing body fat. I’m currently on a cut with lower calories.
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Since you live in Australia, I think this is a very good idea.
Sun exposure increases your chances of getting actinic keratoses or skin cancer.
I was extremely overexposed to the sun in my youth and suffer from chronic actinic keratosis, so I have always been looking for means of mitigating or eliminating the problem.
Most of the problem went away after I started taking rapamycin, but I still take preventative measures like staying out of the sun. If you are not already aware, things like tretinoin, glycolic acid, etc.
Unfortunately, they increase your risk of AKs by making your skin more vulnerable to the sun. The theoretical benefit only holds true if it is paired with rigorous UV protection.
They increase your risk of AKs by increasing your skin’s photosensitivity. The theoretical benefit only holds true if you use high-SPF-factor sunscreen and avoid any overexposure to the sun.
"In the dermatology world, AKs are treated not just as individual “spots,” but as part of field cancerization—the idea that the entire area of sun-damaged skin is prone to developing precancerous lesions.
Here is the theoretical breakdown of why your 7–10% toner might be doing more than just giving you a glow."
1. Accelerated Desquamation of Atypical Cells
Actinic keratoses are essentially a “pile-up” of dysplastic (abnormal) keratinocytes. Glycolic acid works by reducing corneocyte cohesion—basically, it dissolves the “glue” holding dead skin cells together.
- The Theory: By forcing the skin to exfoliate daily, you are physically removing these atypical cells before they can accumulate into a thick, scaly lesion.
- The Result: You are essentially performing “micro-maintenance” on the stratum corneum, preventing the buildup that characterizes a visible AK.
2. Normalization of Keratinization
Chronic UV exposure messes with how skin cells mature as they move from the bottom layer of the epidermis to the top. This leads to the rough, “sandpaper” texture of AKs.
- The Theory: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid have been shown to normalize the keratinization process.
- The Result: It signals the skin to produce more organized, healthier cell layers. Research suggests that long-term use of AHAs can lead to a more uniform epidermis and a reduction in the “clumping” of damaged cells.
3. The “Field Treatment” Effect
While 7–10% is considered a “low dose” compared to a 70% professional peel, the frequency matters.
- Low-Dose Consistency: Daily application acts as a very mild, ongoing field therapy. While it isn’t as aggressive as prescription creams (like 5-fluorouracil) or photodynamic therapy, it maintains a state of high cell turnover that makes it harder for precancerous clusters to take hold.
Comparison: Daily Toner vs. Professional Peels
| Feature | 7–10% Daily Toner | 30–70% Professional Peel |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Superficial (Stratum Corneum) | Medium to Deep (Epidermis/Dermis) |
| Mechanism | Consistent “shedding” of early damage | Acute destruction of damaged layers |
| Recovery | None (unless irritated) | 3–7 days of peeling |
| Goal | Prevention & maintenance | Treatment of existing lesions |
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I use this SPF50+ every time I go out in the sun more than a few minutes Beauty of Joseon: Authentic Hanbang Korean Skincare Products
I got through the Australian summer, it’s officially over and we’re moving into autumn 
I can be more aggressive with retinoids and actives, and sleep better now.
I don’t have any actinic keratosis spots.
I’ve never done a professional level peel. Something I might consider when I have some time off work. I’m not going to work with my face falling off lmao.
Have you done one before?
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No, only self inflicted area peels done from watching YouTube videos. Worked out fine for my purposes
interested in the pineal rejuvenating potential of this - did you continue with epithalon?
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I did it for 60+ days when I was trying out peptides. No subjective results were felt. I didn’t have my genome tested so I don’t know if it lengthed my telomeres or not and I don’t even know telomere lengthening is good or not.Then I moved on to other injectable peptides.
The results were meh, except for Tirzepatide, it worked quite well as I think most GLPs do. It definitely killed my appetite. I stopped taking it because I don’t really need it and it is still expensive from online gray sources, but still a fraction of the cost of Ozempic.
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@desertshores will you dm me where you sourced it? Almost out of Ozempic and might switch to Terzepitide
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Have you tried pinealon?
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Tirz has a better side effect profile and is more efficacious than semaglutide (Ozempic)
It also has superior beneficial off target effects (for the most part.)
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“Have you tried pinealon?”. No, I haven’t tried that one.
Kratom anyone? I’m heading to Mexico for some dental work. Kratom supposedly has both stimulating and pain relieving properties, which should improve the travel experience.
I’ve done injectable epitalon and BPC157. Didn’t notice much from either tbh. but I’m interested in trying oral epitalon, BPC157 and pinealon. I’ve heard good things.
Oral BPC157 in particular seems good for healing the gut lining, I was going to do this in conjunction with an intense prebiotic and probiotic protocol. I’ve also read good things about BPC157 oral and injectable with helping heal dopaminergic neurons which is something I’m interested in due to having ADHD and using stimulant medication for ADHD.
I’ve seen a lot of anecdotal reports from people that they became addicted to it and the tapering off, quitting and withdrawal process was painful. Not worth starting IMO.
I feel the same way about kava root. I tried that a few times and it really felt good and was a good social lubricant similar to alcohol but less inebriating. When I told someone I was using it they told me stories of people becoming dependent on it for social interaction and I never ever want to be reliant on a substance to be able to talk to people and have a good time with people.
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Yes, by all accounts, it can be addictive. But many people manage it quite well, especially a low dose of 2-3 capsules a day for something like three consecutive days. I’m having implants, and implant pain is chronic and acute. I can’t take ibuprofen, so I’m willing to try something else.
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Which part of Mexico did you choose for your dental work? Is it safe to travel there?
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Los Algodones, not far from Yuma. Yes, it is the safest of all the border cities. The town doesn’t tolerate any nonsense because dental tourism is its economic lifeline.
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I also wanted to go to Mexico but then decided to do it in Prague for safety reasons. What clinic are you going to use? Will appreciate if you could share some details by DM.