ALSUntangled #77: Psilocybin
Bhavya Bakshi, Sandeep Yerraguntla, Carmel Armon, Paul Barkhaus, Tulio Bertorini, Robert Bowser, Sarah Breevoort, Mark Bromberg, Andrew Brown, Gregory Carter, Vincent Chang, Jesse Crayle, Timothy Fullam, Maxwell Greene, Terry Heiman-Patterson, Carlayne Jackson, Sartaj Jhooty, Elise Mallon, Javier Mascias Cadavid, Christopher J Mcdermott, Gary Pattee, Kaitlyn Pierce, Dylan Ratner, Yuyao Sun, Olivia Wang, Paul Wicks, Martina Wiedau, Richard Bedlack
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration December 22, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2024.2441274 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA review of psilocybin, a psychedelic chemical from mushrooms, for treating ALS found no preclinical models, case reports, or trials testing it as a disease-modifying therapy. Psilocybin can cross the blood-brain barrier and may affect neurogenesis and inflammation, suggesting plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression. However, depending on dosing, there is a high risk of psychological side effects like hallucinations and physical harm. The authors do not currently support using psilocybin to slow ALS progression.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Neuroplasticity Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics hallucinogens Psychoactive drugs Neuroscience brain research Neural science Neurobiology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | There are no preclinical ALS models, case reports, or trials for psilocybin as a disease-modifying therapy, and the authors do not support its use to slow ALS progression. |
Abstract
ALSUntangled reviews alternate and off-label treatments prompted by patient interest. Here, we review psilocybin, a chemical derived from mushrooms and belonging in the category of drugs known as psychedelics. Psilocybin has plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression because of its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and effect neurogenesis and inflammation. Currently, there are no pre-clinical ALS models, case reports, or trials for psilocybin and ALS in the context of disease modifying therapy. Depending on dosing, there can be a high risk of psychological side effects including hallucinations and physical harm. Based on the above information, we do not currently support the use of psilocybin as a means to slow ALS progression.