A groundbreaking preclinical study published in July 2025 in npj Aging has revealed surprising potential anti-aging effects of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in certain "magic" mushrooms. Titled "Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice," the research was conducted by scientists from Emory University and Baylor College of Medicine, led by senior author Louise Hecker (now at Baylor, formerly at Emory).
This is the first experimental evidence suggesting that psilocybin—or more precisely, its active metabolite psilocin—may act as a geroprotective agent, meaning a substance that protects against or slows aspects of biological aging.
Key Findings from Cellular Experiments
The team tested psilocin on human cells in lab cultures, focusing on fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) from skin and fetal lung sources. These cells undergo replicative senescence over time—a state where they stop dividing and exhibit hallmarks of aging, such as shortened telomeres, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.
Treatment with psilocin extended cellular lifespan significantly, with increases of up to 57% depending on dosage (e.g., around 51% in some human skin fibroblasts and 57% in lung cells).
Moderate doses (like 10 μM) extended lifespan by about 29%, delaying senescence, increasing cumulative population doublings, and reducing population doubling time.
Benefits appeared linked to reduced oxidative stress, improved DNA repair, preservation of telomere length, and modulation of pathways like SIRT1 (a protein associated with longevity and stress resistance).
These effects suggest psilocybin influences multiple "hallmarks of aging" at the cellular level, beyond its well-known effects on serotonin receptors in the brain.
Results in Aged Mice
To test systemic effects, researchers conducted a long-term in vivo study on aged female mice (19 months old at the start, roughly equivalent to 60–65 human years).
Mice received an initial low dose of psilocybin (5 mg/kg), followed by monthly high doses (15 mg/kg) for 10 months.
Treated mice showed markedly improved survival: around 80% survival rate compared to 50% in the untreated control group—a relative improvement of about 30–60% depending on reporting (some sources note a 30% increase, others highlight the survival gap).
Beyond living longer, treated mice appeared healthier visually, with better fur quality, more hair growth, and less graying (though not formally quantified).
The intervention was started relatively late in life, yet still yielded benefits—suggesting potential relevance for "healthy aging" even if begun in older age.
Broader Context and Implications
Psilocybin has already garnered attention for its therapeutic potential in mental health, with over 150 clinical trials showing promise for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and neurodegenerative conditions. This study proposes a novel mechanism: its benefits might partly stem from slowing cellular aging processes, not just brain chemistry changes.
The authors emphasize this as preclinical evidence—promising but early. Human translation remains speculative, and factors like dosing, safety (especially long-term psychedelic effects), and regulatory status need careful consideration. Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance in many places, though decriminalization and clinical research are advancing in some areas.
Still, the findings open exciting questions: Could occasional or targeted psilocybin use support healthier aging? How might serotonin receptor activation (present in many body cells) tie into systemic longevity pathways?
As Louise Hecker noted, even late-life interventions showed benefits in mice, which is "clinically relevant" for aging research. While far from a fountain of youth, this study adds psilocybin to the growing list of compounds (like rapamycin or metformin) being explored for geroprotection.
For the full details, see the open-access paper: Kato et al., npj Aging (2025), DOI: 10.1038/s41514-025-00244-x.
This research highlights how substances once dismissed as mere hallucinogens may hold unexpected keys to biology’s biggest challenges.
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