A clinical trial at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exploring psilocybin, a compound found in magic mushrooms, for Parkinson's disease treatment. The initial findings suggest potential benefits for managing mood, cognition, and motor symptoms associated with the condition.
The study, led by Dr. Ellen Bradley and expanded to Yale School of Medicine, aims to enroll 100 participants. It utilizes advanced techniques like PET, MRI, and TMS to measure psilocybin's effects on the brain. Funding is supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Psilocybin promotes synaptic plasticity, which may help in Parkinson's, where synaptic loss contributes to motor and mood issues. The researchers theorize that psilocybin could relieve symptoms or improve socialization and activity. The findings were published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.