Psychedelic mushrooms have been found to have anti-ageing properties.
New research from the United States suggests psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may extend the lifespan of cells.
Baylor College of Medicine’s Louise Hecker said their research showed psilocybin reduced multiple hallmarks of ageing in cells while also improving survival in aged mice.
“There have been a number of clinical studies that have explored the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety, however, few studies have evaluated its impacts outside the brain,” Dr Hecker said.
“Our findings suggest that psilocybin has potent effects on the entire body, including anti-ageing properties.”
She said telomeres, the protective caps of repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, shortened as people aged, with the current research suggesting that psilocybin treatment preserved telomere length, “contributing to cellular life extension”.
“In the current study, using human cells, the team found that psilocybin extended cellular lifespan up to 57 percent depending on dosages.”
Dr Hecker said the study also showed that when psilocybin was administered to aged mice, which were equivalent to a 60-year-old in human age, mice showed significantly improved survival compared to control mice.
Read the full study: Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice.
