Daijiworld Media Network- San Francisco

San Francisco, May 2: In a pioneering development in Parkinson’s disease research, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have revealed that psilocybin — the psychoactive compound in so-called “magic mushrooms” — could significantly improve mood, cognition, and even motor symptoms in patients suffering from the debilitating neurodegenerative condition.

This is the first time a psychedelic has been systematically tested on patients with any neurodegenerative disease, and the results have gone far beyond expectations. Patients reported sustained relief from mood dysfunction and experienced improvements in movement — a rare feat in Parkinson’s therapy.

The pilot study, involving 12 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson’s, showed that the psychedelic was well-tolerated. After receiving a low 10 mg dose followed by a 25 mg dose two weeks later, patients underwent psychotherapy and were evaluated for changes. While mild side effects like anxiety and nausea were reported, none required medical intervention.

Crucially, patients showed “clinically significant improvements” that lasted for weeks after the drug had left their systems. “This study went well beyond what we expected,” said Dr. Ellen Bradley, the study’s lead author and associate director of UCSF’s Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR).

Bradley noted that mood disorders like depression and anxiety, which often precede motor symptoms in Parkinson’s, are stronger predictors of patients’ quality of life than physical symptoms. Traditional antidepressants often fail in such cases.

Researchers believe psilocybin may aid recovery through multiple mechanisms — by enhancing neuroplasticity, reducing brain inflammation, and improving emotional health, which in turn promotes physical engagement and activity.

Buoyed by the initial success, UCSF — along with Yale University — is launching a larger, randomized controlled trial with 100 patients. The follow-up study will include neuroimaging and brain stimulation to better understand psilocybin’s potential in rewiring the brain. The initiative is supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation and an anonymous donor.

“These results raise the exciting possibility that psilocybin may help the brain repair itself,” said Dr. Joshua Woolley, senior author and director of the TrPR Program. “This could mark a turning point in treating neurodegenerative illnesses.”