Alzheimer s & DementiaDecember 1, 2025Danielle Bukovsky, Aron Amaev, Jianmeng Song et al.
Abstract Background Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is characterized by synaptic loss and cognitive decline and is considered a precursor to Alzheimer’s Disease. Currently, there are no effective treatments for aMCI, and available treatments (i.e., cholinesterase inhibitors) do not appear to improve cognitive or functional outcomes. Psychedelics, including psilocybin, have regained...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is widely used recreationally but also modulates serotonergic signaling in the gut, potentially influencing the microbiota. Because low bone mineral density (BMD) is common in depression and other psychiatric disorders, we tested whether repeated, intermittent MDMA attenuates BMD loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. OVX mice received MDMA (10 mg/kg) three...
Psychedelic research has shown that the effects of serotonergic substances, such as psilocybin and LSD, are strongly influenced by the interaction of substance, set, and setting. Mystical-type experiences, often induced by psychedelics, are not solely driven by pharmacological mechanisms but emerge from a dynamic interplay between the psychological state (set), external environment (setting),...
Introduction Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by distortions in the perception of size, time, and spatial relationships. Named after Lewis Carroll’s novel, the condition has been known since the 1950s, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. AIWS is frequently associated with migraine, epilepsy, and viral infections. Aim The...
The 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors are key therapeutic targets for CNS disorders. We investigated whether a nonhallucinogenic dual 5-HT2A/5-HT2C agonist could offer novel treatment potential. Large screening of in-house structurally diverse compounds revealed centhaquin, an FDA-approved hypovolemic shock drug, as a selective 5-HT2C agonist (EC50: 35 nM). We then synthesized 22 aza-aryl analogs...
The mechanism of psychedelic drug action is a dynamic area of neuroscience, with two major lines of investigation: (1) laboratory studies at the molecular and cellular level, and (2) human neuroimaging studies of functional brain networks. Despite considerable progress, there remains insufficient understanding of the link between molecular/cellular substrates of psychedelics and the whole-brain...
The etiology of OCD is complex and appears to involve multiple biological pathways. Imbalances in central serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate activities are widely thought to play a causative role. Despite strong evidence supporting first-line OCD pharmacotherapies, approximately 40-60 % of OCD patients remain unresponsive and are considered treatment resistant (TR). Although a range of agents...
CellsNovember 26, 2025Ivan Anchesi, Maria Francesca Astorino, Ivana Raffaele et al.1 citation
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) therapies effectively modulate peripheral immune responses but largely fail to promote neural repair within the central nervous system. This review evaluates whether psychedelic compounds (PSYs), via 5-HT2A activation, can fill a critical therapeutic gap: the need for agents that simultaneously suppress neuroinflammation and promote regeneration. We dissect the evidence...
Psychedelics, acting primarily through 5-HT2A receptor binding and modulation of networks such as the default mode network (DMN), can induce shifts in self-perception, cognition, and emotion by promoting neuroplasticity and altering entrenched thought patterns. The biomedical model, emphasizing measurable neurochemical processes, often attempts to extract these neuroplastic benefits while...
Recent studies have demonstrated that subanesthetic dose of ketamine or its S-enantiomer, esketamine, can paradoxically accelerate the recovery of consciousness in rodents following general anesthesia. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this "awakening-promoting" effect remain poorly understood. Adult C57BL/6J mice were anesthetized with propofol, 0and a low dose of esketamine (2mg/kg)...