Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Psilocybin Pilot Study Shows Weeks-Long Symptom Relief in Parkinson’s Patients

UCSF researchers report improved mood, cognition, and motor function following supervised psychedelic therapy, prompting larger trials at UCSF and Yale.

mushrooms
Image

Overview

  • A UCSF pilot study found that two supervised doses of psilocybin improved mood, cognitive, and motor symptoms in Parkinson’s patients, with benefits lasting for weeks.
  • The study, involving 12 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson’s and mood disorders, marks the first use of a psychedelic in a neurodegenerative disease trial.
  • Participants tolerated the treatment well, with no serious adverse events or worsening of symptoms reported during the sessions.
  • Researchers propose neuroplasticity and serotonin/dopamine modulation as potential mechanisms behind the observed improvements.
  • Encouraged by the results, UCSF and Yale have launched a 100-participant randomized controlled trial to validate findings and explore biological mechanisms.