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Moira G. Semple

3 papers in the library · 3 citations · publishing 2025-2026

Papers

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Brain-targeted epigenetic effects of two emerging psychoplastogens: ketamine & MDMA

Translational Psychiatry July 11, 2026 Moira G. Semple, Sarah E. Mennenga, Ryan Smith et al.

Psychoplastogen compounds such as ketamine and MDMA have shown therapeutic promise for mood and trauma-related disorders, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects remain poorly understood. Here, we applied a Brain-Epigenome-Wide Association Study (BEWAS) targeting brain-relevant genes to examine DNA methylation changes following treatment. Pre- and post-treatment blood (ketamine, N...

Psilocybin reduces depressive-like behavior and improves cognition in healthy aging mice via epigenetic regulation of plasticity- and immune-related genes

Research Square November 5, 2025 Sarah E. Mennenga, Toni J. Hanson, Moira G. Semple et al. 2 citations

Abstract For many, cognitive and affective health declines through typical aging. Although cognitive and affective symptoms are often studied in isolation, they share substantial overlap, and arise, in part, from common biological processes. Aging is accompanied by diminished neural plasticity, heightened neuroinflammation, and widespread alterations in the epigenome. These molecular changes...

Brain-epigenome wide association study (BEWAS) on the effects of two emerging psychedelics: ketamine & MDMA

bioRxiv Preprint Server July 3, 2025 Moira G. Semple, Sarah E. Mennenga, Ryan Smith et al. 1 citation preprint

Psychedelic compounds such as ketamine and MDMA have shown therapeutic promise for mood and trauma-related disorders, yet their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study applied a Brain-Epigenome-Wide Association Study (BEWAS) to assess DNA methylation changes in brain-enriched genes following treatment. Pre- and post-treatment blood (ketamine, N = 20) and saliva (MDMA, N = 16) samples...