Have we found the solution to reversing aging in magic mushrooms? Scientists believe they're closer than ever
magic mushrooms
, can significantly extend lifespan and improve biological health in mice. The study, published this week in 'Nature Partner Journals: Aging', raises the tantalizing question: could psychedelic therapy offer more than just mental health benefits and actually delay
aging
in humans?
From psychedelics to prolonged Life
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The study's results are as striking as they are unexpected. Mice administered psilocybin lived nearly 30 percent longer than their untreated peers, and they aged more gracefully, too. Treated mice displayed fuller, healthier coats, fewer white hairs, and more physical mobility.
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In parallel lab tests, human skin and lung cells exposed to psilocin demonstrated a 50 percent increase in lifespan. These results, researchers say, suggest that psilocybin may act on cellular aging mechanisms at a foundational level.
"Psilocybin doesn't just alter consciousness; it appears to alter cellular fate," said Dr. Louise Hecker, senior author of the study and former associate professor at Emory University. 'Even when administered late in life, psilocybin still extended survival and improved physical function, which is clinically meaningful for aging populations.'
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Dr. Hecker, now at Baylor College of Medicine, led the team that tracked the impact of monthly psilocybin treatments on 19-month-old mice, roughly equivalent to 60- to 65-year-old humans. Mice received an initial low dose of 5 milligrams of psilocybin, followed by 15 mg monthly for ten months.
What did the study say?
The study revealed that psilocybin doesn't simply slow aging; it appears to address the biological hallmarks of aging itself. Treated mice showed reduced oxidative stress, a key driver of age-related diseases, as well as preserved telomere length and improved DNA repair.
Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes. As we age, they naturally shorten, increasing vulnerability to cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, and heart disease. Psilocin appears to protect these cellular structures, suggesting its potential as a broad-spectrum anti-aging agent.
'These mechanisms are fundamental to aging and disease,' Dr. Hecker noted. 'Psilocybin may be the first drug of its kind to act on all of them simultaneously.'
Not just a longer life, a better one
For Dr. Ali John Zarrabi, Director of Psychedelic Research in Emory's Department of Psychiatry and a co-investigator on the study, the implications go far beyond lifespan.
'As a palliative care physician, I often ask: what's the point of living longer if it's with more pain, more dependency, and less dignity?' Zarrabi said. 'What excited us is that these mice weren't just surviving longer, they were thriving. That suggests psilocybin could help promote healthy aging, not just extended aging.'
The findings come amid growing global interest in anti-aging science. With the US anti-aging market now surpassing $500 million annually, the search for therapies that extend both life and vitality has become a high-stakes frontier of medical research.
The study's release also follows a sobering report from KFF showing that US life expectancy, currently 78.4 years, lags significantly behind that of other developed nations. From 1980 to 2022, American lifespan increased by only 4.7 years, compared to a 7.9-year increase elsewhere.
Beyond mental health
Although psilocybin has gained attention primarily for its powerful effects on treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and
PTSD
, this study is one of the first to examine its systemic effects on aging.
'Most cells in the human body express
serotonin receptors
,' Hecker explained, 'which suggests that psilocybin could exert influence far beyond the brain.' This broad receptor presence may be why the compound had such wide-ranging impacts on both cell health and whole-body physiology.
Zarrabi confirmed that Emory is actively participating in Phase II and III clinical trials for psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression. He now hopes this study will spark expanded research into psilocybin's potential anti-aging benefits in humans.
"If psilocybin gets FDA approval for depression in 2027," he said, "it may pave the way for trials investigating whether improved mental health can lead to improved physical health, and even extended lifespan."
What's Next?
While the findings are promising, experts caution that much more research is needed before psilocybin can be considered a legitimate anti-aging treatment for humans.
'We're just scratching the surface,' said Zarrabi. 'What we need now are long-term human trials in aging populations to explore not only the safety, but the functional benefits of psilocybin as a systemic therapeutic.'
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