Dementia is a progressive illness that, despite extensive research, has yet to be halted or reversed by any medication. Recently, an unlikely contender, a psychedelic once criticized, has emerged as a potential option for managing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Global neuroscientists are exploring whether psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, might offer protection for the aging brain. A case study from Brazil provides intriguing insights into this possibility.
The study details how a woman in her 80s with advanced Alzheimer’s exhibited temporary improvements in bladder control and verbal communication after consuming a high dose of psilocybin mushrooms. This research, conducted by Brazilian neuroscientists, lacks comprehensive detail but indicates significant cognitive and physical enhancements lasting several weeks post-treatment.
Marcos Lago, a neuroscientist from the University of Sao Paolo, cautions that these findings do not signify a reversal of Alzheimer’s pathology. Instead, they suggest that some dormant functional capacities might remain in advanced neurodegeneration and could be temporarily accessible under specific conditions.
This suggests that psilocybin might activate certain brain areas affected by dementia, providing temporary symptom relief, though this remains speculative.
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The psilocybin treatment experiment was conducted in Brazil under clinical supervision, with the patient’s legal guardian’s written consent. Initially, the elderly woman received a substantial 5-gram dose of psilocybin mushrooms, inducing a prolonged, deep sleep-like state.
Before the treatment, the woman communicated only in monosyllables and depended heavily on assistance for daily activities. Approximately 19 hours after ingestion, she began speaking to herself and continued for several hours.
In the following days, she reportedly regained bladder control, dressed, walked independently, and engaged in conversation, maintaining eye contact and smiling.
“The persistence of urinary continence after more than 5 years of chronic incontinence is particularly notable, given that continence depends on integrated interoceptive awareness, executive inhibition, and fronto-insular network function,” write the researchers behind her case report, including neurologists Mariana Cerveira and Joe Xavier Simonet.
Due to the positive and lasting effects observed, the woman received another 3-gram dose of mushrooms one month later, also under close supervision. During this session, she stayed awake and verbally expressive, sharing emotional experiences like surfing with her son on a tranquil island.
“Facial expressivity, emotional reciprocity, spontaneous humor, and gait agility appeared markedly improved,” reads her case report.
During this second session, the woman said, unprompted, “It is pleasant to come here.”
It is important to note that researchers in Brazil did not monitor the woman’s sleep state or brain activity during her trip, nor did they use standardized cognitive scales to assess her cognitive state.
“The present report should be understood primarily as a detailed observational description intended to generate hypotheses for future controlled investigation,” the authors write. “Systematic investigation is warranted,” they add.
Globally, researchers are examining psilocybin’s potential benefits for older adults facing cognitive challenges or mental health issues. A survey of over 3,000 U.S. adults, aged 42 to 92, indicated that recent hallucinogen users reported fewer depressive symptoms and positive changes in some brain functions.
Initial trials with psilocybin have demonstrated that a single 25mg dose can trigger long-lasting brain changes, though this is significantly less than the dose given to the Brazilian woman. Her dose is considered a ‘heroic dose’ in recreational terms, known for profound effects despite potential risks.
“The selected mushroom dose was relatively high compared with dosing approaches commonly used in modern clinical trials and was chosen based on prior experiential observations regarding depth and duration of psychedelic-induced neurobehavioral effects,” the authors explain in the case study.
Future randomized clinical trials are needed to determine if psilocybin really can rewire the brain for the better, and at what dose it is safest and most effective.
In fact, one pilot study on cognitive decline has already started. It is evaluating whether psilocybin, provided in a supervised environment, can reduce depression and improve the quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Related: Psilocybin Put Rat Brains ‘Back Together’ After Mild Head Trauma
“In some patient populations, psilocybin is very helpful in reducing depression, reducing anxiety, and improving quality of life,” explained neuroscientist Albert Garcia-Romeu, who investigates psychedelic therapies at Johns Hopkins University, in 2023. “Those types of benefits could be really useful in a population with Alzheimer’s.”
Only time will tell. Many dementia drugs have shown great promise, only to fail at clinical trials. Perhaps psilocybin will be different.
The study is published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
