Scanning Electron Microscopy Image of Psilocybe cubensis, a Highly Potent Hallucinogen Administered to an Alzheimer’s Patient.
Ted Kinsman/Science Photo Library
A remarkable case emerged involving an 83-year-old woman with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, who transformed from communicating in monosyllables to engaging in extended conversations after being treated with high doses of psilocybin. This woman, who also battled urinary incontinence and required assistance to move, regained bladder control and mobility just weeks after beginning the treatment, reinforcing existing research that suggests psychedelics can significantly impact cognition and brain function.
“Her facial expressions became noticeably more expressive. She maintained eye contact longer, smiled more often, and exhibited greater agility,” reported Marcus Lago of the Ankh Cross Society in São Paulo, Brazil, an organization dedicated to holistic healthcare. “During a follow-up session, she spontaneously commented, ‘It feels good to be here.’
The woman had endured a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s, severely compromising her daily functioning for five of those years.
With her son’s approval, she was administered 5 grams of the potent magic mushroom strain Enigma, a Psilocybe cubensis variant, orally. Initially, she experienced profuse sweating and entered a deep sleep-like state for an extended duration. However, approximately 19 hours later, her son noted that she engaged in a four-hour conversation filled with memories and reflections.
In the weeks following, Lago and his team observed her regain urinary function, independently change her clothes, and engage in spontaneous dialogue. About a month after her inaugural psilocybin experience, she was administered a further three grams, which prompted memories of surfing trips with her son on tranquil islands.
“She selected and coordinated her outfits, anticipated breakfast in the television room, recognized specific situations involving rental cars, and noticed when people were absent—behavior previously uncharacteristic for her,” Lago detailed.
While her Alzheimer’s disease remains uncurable, researchers are optimistic that psychedelic therapy could unlock functional abilities in patients. Psilocybin is known to activate serotonin receptors in the brain, potentially enhancing brain plasticity and reshaping neuronal communication networks.
David Nutt, a professor at Imperial College London, noted he has encountered similar cases where psychedelics appear to enhance cognitive function in individuals with neurodegenerative conditions. “Although these findings don’t definitively establish that psychedelics could prolong life or improve brain health, they are consistent with established understanding of their anti-inflammatory properties,” he stated.
The root causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not fully understood, but one prevailing theory, the amyloid hypothesis, proposes that the accumulation of misfolded amyloid beta proteins between neurons leads to neuroinflammation and the formation of tau tangles within cells, ultimately disrupting nerve connections and causing cell death. “Some brain dysfunction may arise from one neural circuit inhibiting another, and psychedelics could potentially alleviate these issues,” Nutt added.
However, the long-term implications of psilocybin treatment remain uncertain. “I harbor significant concerns regarding the validity and ethics surrounding this report,” remarked Albert Garcia-Romeu from Johns Hopkins University paper. He is involved in a study examining the effects of psilocybin on depression in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s. “This report only covers the month after the initial treatment, neglecting to highlight any sustained effects or further follow-up.”
Garcia-Romeu added that, as this is a solitary case report, its findings cannot be generalized across all Alzheimer’s patients. Furthermore, he emphasized that the diagnosis was made using symptom assessment rather than more reliable techniques such as biomarker tests or neuroimaging.
Nevertheless, there is a call for more extensive research into psilocybin’s potential benefits. “While this case is astonishing, and we must exercise caution in interpreting its implications, it suggests that further trials could be beneficial,” suggested Rudolph Tanzi from Harvard University.
Topics:
- Psychedelics /
- Alzheimer’s Disease
Source: www.newscientist.com
