Increased cortical thickness and decreased brain age among special operations veterans with blast TBI after a magnesium-ibogaine protocol
Andrew Geoly, John P. Coetzee, Derrick Matthew Buchanan, Wiebke Struckmann, Bora Kim, Malvika Sridhar, Azeezat Azeez, Jennifer I. Lissemore, Kirsten Cherian, Afik Faerman, Jackob N. Keynan, Prakamya Singal, Alaa Shanbour, Igor D. Bandeira, Ian H. Kratter, Maheen M. Adamson, Manish Saggar, Cammie Rolle, Nolan Williams
iScience February 21, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115121 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal cohort study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Military veterans with traumatic brain injury |
| Intervention | Magnesium-ibogaine therapy |
| Dose | 800 mg |
| Duration | 1-month follow-up |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Protocol science Traumatic brain injury Brain aging Neurology Neurointensive care Emergency medicine |
| Key findings | Magnesium-ibogaine therapy was associated with increased cortical thickness, subcortical expansion, and reduced predicted brain age at one month. |
Abstract
= 22). Longitudinal analyses assessed cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and predicted brain age (pBA), estimated from T1 scans. pBA was significantly reduced at 1 month relative to baseline (-1.3 years). Cortical thickness analysis revealed post-treatment increases in 11 regions. Subcortical analyses revealed significant volumetric expansion in 8 regions. Magnesium-ibogaine therapy was associated with increased cortical thickness, subcortical expansion, and reduced pBA at 1 month. Although T1s are sensitive to nonstructural changes, the overall direction of effect is consistent with neuroplastic change.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. Adults with DSM-IV opioid dependence | 2018 | Observational study | n = 30 |
| Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. Individuals receiving legal ibogaine treatment for opioid dependence in New Zealand | 2018 | Observational study | n = 14 |
| Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Drug-dependent persons undergoing inpatient detoxification | 2000 | Observational study | |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study. Former alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and crack users (72% poly-drug users) | 2014 | Retrospective analysis | n = 75 |
| Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Male Special Operations Forces veterans with predominantly mild traumatic brain injury | 2024 | Prospective observational study | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cites 28
- Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Cell Reports June 1, 2018
- Serotonin transporter-ibogaine complexes illuminate mechanisms of inhibition and transport. Nature May 1, 2019
- Neurometabolic Effects of Psilocybin, 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE) and d-Methamphetamine in Healthy Volunteers A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled PET Study with [18F]FDG Neuropsychopharmacology June 1, 1999
- Degeneration of Purkinje cells in parasagittal zones of the cerebellar vermis after treatment with ibogaine or harmaline. Neuroscience July 1, 1993
- Mescaline-induced psychopathological, neuropsychological, and neurometabolic effects in normal subjects: experimental psychosis as a tool for psychiatric research. Biological Psychiatry December 1, 1992
and 23 more in the library