13/08/2025
🌿 Magic Mushroom Compound Shows Surprising Anti-Aging Potential 🧬
In a fascinating early study, scientists have found that psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms — might slow certain signs of aging. Once inside the body, psilocybin turns into psilocin, which was tested on human lung and skin cells in the lab. The treated cells lived up to 57% longer, maintained their protective DNA caps (telomeres), showed less oxidative stress, and produced more of the longevity-linked protein Sirt1.
In tests with older mice (comparable to humans in their 60s), monthly psilocybin doses led to striking results: after 10 months, 80% of treated mice were still alive compared to only 50% in the untreated group. Some even regrew fur on bald spots — and white fur turned brown again! Researchers believe the compound may work by protecting telomeres, which usually shorten with age.
However, they caution that the mouse doses were much higher than those typically given to humans, and much more research is needed before any conclusions can be applied to people. Still, this opens an exciting door to exploring psilocybin as a possible tool against aging and age-related diseases.
📄 Source: Kato, Kosuke, et al. Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice. npj Aging 11.1 (2025): 55.