An 80-year-old woman with advanced disease Alzheimer’swho for years had lost basic functions of her daily life, appeared to temporarily regain some of these abilities after taking a high dose of psilocybin, the substance contained in certain types of mushrooms.
According to a case study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, the woman had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for about 10 years. Before the intervention, she spoke little, needed help to walk, had no bladder control, and was highly dependent on her caregivers.
Following administration of high-dose psilocybin, the researchers observed a temporary improvement in functions that were thought to be lost due to the disease. About 19 hours later, the patient began to talk about her life, whereas her speech before was limited to one or two words. Over the next few days, she appeared to be walking better, dressing herself, smiling, making eye contact, and recognizing family members.
Special mention is also made of improving bladder control, as the woman suffered years of incontinence. After the intervention, periods without episodes of incontinence were recorded, even during the night, according to the report.
This is not a cure
The researchers themselves are cautious. As they point out, this does not mean that psilocybin cures or reverses Alzheimer’s disease. This is a single patient, with no comparison group, and the findings cannot be generalized.
What the study suggests is something different: That even in advanced stages of the disease, the brain may retain certain “hidden” functional capabilities, which may, under special conditions, be activated temporarily.
What is psilocybin in simple words
Psilocybin is a substance that occurs naturally in certain types of mushrooms. In recent years, it has been scientifically studied for its effect on the brain, mainly in relation to the communication between different brain networks and the ability of the brain to create new connections.
In the case of the 80-year-old, the researchers do not claim that the substance “repaired” the brain. Instead, they question whether it may have temporarily helped certain brain circuits to be functionally rewired, allowing the patient to express abilities that seemed lost.
