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Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan, improves survival of aged mice

Psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms, has received attention due to considerable clinical evidence for its therapeutic potential to treat various psychiatric and neurodegenerative indications. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain enigmatic, and few studies have explored its systemic impacts. We provide the first experimental evidence that psilocin (the active metabolite of psilocybin) treatment extends cellular lifespan and psilocybin treatment promotes increased longevity in aged mice, suggesting that psilocybin may be a potent geroprotective agent.

To further validate these findings, we repeated these studies with a different cell type (adult human skin fibroblasts); 100 μM psilocin treatment increased cellular lifespan by 51%, which was accompanied by reduced senescence and decreased oxidative stress levels (Supplementary Fig. This study provides the first experimental evidence suggesting that psilocybin may impact multiple hallmarks of aging, including delayed senescence, preservation of telomere length, enhanced DNA stability (via increased DNA-damage responses such as GADD45a), and/or it could reduce aberrant intercellular communication (via decreased oxidative stress and subsequent signaling). Researchers were not blinded to group allocation during the experimental procedures or data analysis due to logistical constraints, including regulatory and safety protocols associated with handling psilocybin, a Schedule I controlled substance, as well as the exploratory nature of the study.

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