Psilocybin may help the brain recover from concussion, new study shows

The naturally occurring psychedelic psilocybin shows therapeutic effect for repeated mild head injury — in adult female rats. (Unsplash) A concussion is often described as a “mild” traumatic brain injury .

Yet repeated blows to the head rarely feel mild and the impacts — including changes in movement, memory, mood and brain function — may last for months or years.

Athletes, military personnel, people involved in vehicle collisions, older adults who experience falls and people experiencing intimate partner violence are all especially susceptible to repeated head injuries.

And these are associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy and Parkinson’s disease .

There is no approved drug that repairs the underlying brain damage from concussions.

This therapeutic gap has prompted interest in an unconventional candidate: psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in “magic mushrooms.” New research, which I conducted with colleagues from the United States, shows that psilocybin may help the brain recover from repeated mild head trauma .

Beyond the psychedelic experience Psilocybin is best known for producing profound changes in perception and consciousness .

However, research increasingly suggests that its biological actions extend beyond the psychedelic experience .

It can promote plasticity , the brain’s capacity to adapt, and may influence inflammation, blood vessels and the molecular systems that support cellular repair .

Recent animal studies suggest that psilocybin may also be effective in healing repetitive brain injuries.

A single dose of psilocybin administered months after repetitive concussion-like injuries improved emotional and cognitive outcomes in rats.

In another study, treatment one year after a more severe brain injury improved motor function, restored serotonin-receptor signalling and reduced microglial abnormalities .

These studies suggest that psilocybin may influence both the immediate response to head injury and its long-term consequences.

Reduced brain fluid leakage To further investigate the potential of psilocybin to heal concussion, our team worked with middle-aged female rats.