Latest news with #EllenBradley
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Parkinson's patients who take 'magic mushrooms' see key benefits, study finds
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways As Parkinson's cases continue to rise, the race is on for therapies to combat the effects of the disease — and researchers have pinpointed an unlikely source of relief. Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in some mushrooms, has been found to improve mood, cognition and motor symptoms in Parkinson's patients, according to a new study from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The substance, often referred to as "magic mushrooms," has previously been shown to alleviate depression and anxiety, which prompted the researchers to explore its potential for Parkinson's. Psychedelic Retreat Reports 183% Spike In Bookings As Health Experts Cite 'Downside' Of Unregulated Use People with the neurological movement disorder often suffer from "debilitating mood dysfunction" and don't tend to respond well to traditional antidepressants, according to a UCSF press release. Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in some mushrooms, has been found to improve mood, cognition and motor symptoms in Parkinson's patients. "Many people don't realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson's are linked to a faster physical decline," said lead study author Ellen Bradley, M.D., assistant professor and associate director of UCSF's Translational Psychedelic Research Program, in the release. Read On The Fox News App "And they are actually a stronger predictor of patients' quality of life with Parkinson's than their motor symptoms." The small study included 12 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. They ranged in age from 40 to 75. All had depression and/or anxiety. Fda Rejects Mdma As Psychedelic-based Treatment For Mental Health, Ptsd They all received a 10 mg-dose of psilocybin, then a 25 mg-dose two weeks later. To measure the effects, the participants met with a licensed therapist before and after receiving the medication. At the one-week and one-month follow-ups, the patients reported "clinically significant improvements" not only in mood and cognition, but also motor function. "These results are really encouraging," Bradley told Fox News Digital. "Depression and anxiety, which debilitate so many people with Parkinson's, improved significantly — and those improvements lasted for at least three months after patients took the drug." Amir Inamdar, a pharmaceutical physician in the U.K. and chief medical officer at Cybin, noted that the improvement in motor symptoms was somewhat surprising. "As the authors note, this could be because of the modulation of dopamine via psilocybin's effect on several serotonin receptor types." (Inamdar was not involved in the study.) The most common side effects of psilocybin were anxiety, nausea, headache and elevated blood pressure, but none were serious enough to require medical care, according to the researchers. People with the neurological movement disorder often suffer from "debilitating mood dysfunction" and don't tend to respond well to traditional antidepressants. "Despite the reports of challenging experiences in a couple of participants, psilocybin seemed to be well-tolerated," Inamdar noted. "The side effects were consistent with what has been seen in other studies, with no precipitation/ exacerbation of psychotic symptoms." The study, which was published in Neuropsychopharmacology, a Nature publication, was funded by an anonymous donor. This was the first study to measure the effects of a psychedelic substance on patients with a neurodegenerative disease, according to USCF. While this study was an "important first step," Bradley noted that the researchers can't draw conclusions from it, as it was a small pilot without a control group. "We've now started a much larger trial designed to rigorously test if psilocybin is effective in Parkison's," she told Fox News Digital. "We're also collecting multimodal biological data to understand how psilocybin works. That's critical not just for optimizing psilocybin treatments, but also for guiding development of next-generation psychedelics that are in the pipeline now and could be promising for people with Parkinson's." Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Bradley still recommends that Parkinson's patients approach psilocybin and other psychedelics with "a lot of caution." "I wouldn't recommend to my patients with Parkinson's that they start using psilocybin," she clarified. "We're very, very early in this research, and we don't think these drugs will be safe for everyone with the illness." This was the first study to measure the effects of a psychedelic substance on patients with a neurodegenerative disease, according to USCF. "I hope that people continue to advocate for research so we can speed this process of identifying the right psychedelic treatment for the right patient at the right time." Inamadar agreed that while the results are encouraging, the study was based on a small and limited sample. For more Health articles, visit "The study was also open-label, which lends itself to higher expectancy effects, though the improvements in mood and anxiety symptoms were still seen at three months," he added. "Overall, [the] quite encouraging results warrant further investigation, certainly in trying to understand the mechanism behind improvement in motor symptoms." Original article source: Parkinson's patients who take 'magic mushrooms' see key benefits, study finds
Fox News
07-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Parkinson's patients who take 'magic mushrooms' see key benefits, study finds
As Parkinson's cases continue to rise, the race is on for therapies to combat the effects of the disease — and researchers have pinpointed an unlikely source of relief. Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in some mushrooms, has been found to improve mood, cognition and motor symptoms in Parkinson's patients, according to a new study from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). The substance, often referred to as "magic mushrooms," has previously been shown to alleviate depression and anxiety, which prompted the researchers to explore its potential for Parkinson's. PSYCHEDELIC RETREAT REPORTS 183% SPIKE IN BOOKINGS AS HEALTH EXPERTS CITE 'DOWNSIDE' OF UNREGULATED USE People with the neurological movement disorder often suffer from "debilitating mood dysfunction" and don't tend to respond well to traditional antidepressants, according to a UCSF press release. "Many people don't realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson's are linked to a faster physical decline," said lead study author Ellen Bradley, M.D., assistant professor and associate director of UCSF's Translational Psychedelic Research Program, in the release. "And they are actually a stronger predictor of patients' quality of life with Parkinson's than their motor symptoms." The small study included 12 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. They ranged in age from 40 to 75. All had depression and/or anxiety. FDA REJECTS MDMA AS PSYCHEDELIC-BASED TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH, PTSD They all received a 10 mg-dose of psilocybin, then a 25 mg-dose two weeks later. To measure the effects, the participants met with a licensed therapist before and after receiving the medication. At the one-week and one-month follow-ups, the patients reported "clinically significant improvements" not only in mood and cognition, but also motor function. "Many people don't realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson's are linked to a faster physical decline." "These results are really encouraging," Bradley told Fox News Digital. "Depression and anxiety, which debilitate so many people with Parkinson's, improved significantly — and those improvements lasted for at least three months after patients took the drug." Amir Inamdar, a pharmaceutical physician in the U.K. and chief medical officer at Cybin, noted that the improvement in motor symptoms was somewhat surprising. "As the authors note, this could be because of the modulation of dopamine via psilocybin's effect on several serotonin receptor types." (Inamdar was not involved in the study.) The most common side effects of psilocybin were anxiety, nausea, headache and elevated blood pressure, but none were serious enough to require medical care, according to the researchers. "Despite the reports of challenging experiences in a couple of participants, psilocybin seemed to be well-tolerated," Inamdar noted. "The side effects were consistent with what has been seen in other studies, with no precipitation/ exacerbation of psychotic symptoms." The study, which was published in Neuropsychopharmacology, a Nature publication, was funded by an anonymous donor. Limitations and further research This was the first study to measure the effects of a psychedelic substance on patients with a neurodegenerative disease, according to USCF. While this study was an "important first step," Bradley noted that the researchers can't draw conclusions from it, as it was a small pilot without a control group. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "We've now started a much larger trial designed to rigorously test if psilocybin is effective in Parkison's," she told Fox News Digital. "We're also collecting multimodal biological data to understand how psilocybin works. That's critical not just for optimizing psilocybin treatments, but also for guiding development of next-generation psychedelics that are in the pipeline now and could be promising for people with Parkinson's." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Bradley still recommends that Parkinson's patients approach psilocybin and other psychedelics with "a lot of caution." "I wouldn't recommend to my patients with Parkinson's that they start using psilocybin," she clarified. "We're very, very early in this research, and we don't think these drugs will be safe for everyone with the illness." "I hope that people continue to advocate for research so we can speed this process of identifying the right psychedelic treatment for the right patient at the right time." Inamadar agreed that while the results are encouraging, the study was based on a small and limited sample. For more Health articles, visit "The study was also open-label, which lends itself to higher expectancy effects, though the improvements in mood and anxiety symptoms were still seen at three months," he added. "Overall, [the] quite encouraging results warrant further investigation, certainly in trying to understand the mechanism behind improvement in motor symptoms."
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists explain why magic mushrooms can combat Parkinson's disease
When I hear the words 'magic mushrooms,' I imagine a group of indie-looking teenagers micro-dosing at a festival. An estimated eight million American adults used psilocybin in 2023, according to figures from RAND. Whether it's used to enhance some sort of guided meditation, or to experience some life-changing epiphanies in the park with your friends one sunny day, it's been proven the psychedelic drug - called psilocybin - can help with anxiety and depression. However, researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have seen some incredible results after trialing the drug with Parkinson's disease patients. The condition mainly affects people over the age of 50 and occurs when parts of the brain become progressively damaged over time. Its symptoms include involuntary shaking or tremors, muscle stiffness and anxiety and depression. The study is the first of its kind to test the effects of psychedelics on patients with a neurodegenerative disease. Parkinson's is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. Nearly one million people in the US are living with the condition, the Parkinson's Foundation reports - a figure that's expected to rise to 1.2 million in the next five years. The groundbreaking pilot study, saw 12 patients with 'mild to moderate' Parkinson's receive two doses of psilocybin: 10 mg, followed by 25 mg two weeks later. They also underwent regular psychotherapy sessions to track their wellbeing. The study's aim was to assess the safety of psilocybin, yet the results uncovered something unexpected - and pretty incredible. Participants experienced significant, lasting improvements in mood, cognition and motor function, which persisted for weeks after the drug had left their systems. These mental health improvements were reported for up to three months after their final dose of the drug. Scientists reckon this could be chalked up to two major reasons. Firstly, psilocybin's impact on patient's mood could've led to better cognitive and motor functions. This, in turn, would've helped them socialize and become more active - both key elements of Parkinson's treatment. Another is that psilocybin could reduce inflammation and promote neuroplasticity, which is the growth and reconnection of brain cells involved in mood, cognition, and movement regulation. 'We are still in very early stages of this work, but this first study went well beyond what we expected,' said the paper's first author, Ellen Bradley, MD, assistant professor and associate director of UCSF's Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR). 'Many people don't realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson's are linked to a faster physical decline,' she said. 'And they are actually a stronger predictor of patients' quality of life with Parkinson's than their motor symptoms.' Encouraged by the results, UCSF is set to launch a larger, randomized trial in partnership with Yale, aiming to enrol 100 participants. This next phase will incorporate brain imaging and other tools to understand psilocybin's effects on brain function in more detail. 'The vast majority of brain diseases lack treatments that change their course,' said Dr. Joshua Woolley, senior author. 'These results raise the exciting possibility that psilocybin may help the brain repair itself.'
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Psychedelic ‘wonder drug' of the ‘60s can improve Parkinson's symptoms for weeks: study
Here's some groovy news. A mind-bending blast from the past — once hailed as a 'wonder drug' that could cure everything from anxiety to addiction — is making a comeback. 3 A groundbreaking study has found that a popular drug can help relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Advertisement Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound that gave 'magic mushrooms' their trippy reputation in the 1960s — is now showing serious promise for improving mood and motor function in people with Parkinson's disease, according to a groundbreaking recent study. In the first trial of its kind, researchers administered a single dose of psilocybin to patients battling Parkinson's — a degenerative brain disorder that affects nearly 1 million Americans. The results? Not just a safe trip, but one that delivered weeks of relief from the tremors, stiffness and depression that often plague patients. Advertisement 'Many people don't realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson's are linked to a faster physical decline,' Ellen Bradley, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UC San Francisco, said in a statement. 'And they are actually a stronger predictor of patients' quality of life with Parkinson's than their motor symptoms.' The study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, indicates participants handled the hallucinogen well — there were no serious side effects or worsening symptoms — and also experienced marked boosts in mood, memory and movement that stuck around long after they stopped taking the drug. Advertisement It's also a historic first: no psychedelic has been trialed in patients with a degenerative brain disease — until now. 3 Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound that gave 'magic mushrooms' their trippy reputation in the 1960s — is now showing serious promise for improving mood and motor function in people with the disease. contentdealer – 'We are still in very early stages of this work, but this first study went well beyond what we expected,' Bradley said. There is currently no cure for Parkinson's, though drugs like levodopa can help patients manage their symptoms. The good news is that treatment options are expanding. Advertisement Tavapadon — a new drug that mimics dopamine by targeting certain receptors — has shown promise in clinical trials by reducing motor fluctuations and maintaining symptom control with fewer side effects than traditional therapies. Produodopa — a continuous infusion therapy first administered in the UK — was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last fall. 3 'Many people don't realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson's are linked to a faster physical decline,' researcher Ellen Bradley said. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – Innovative approaches targeting the psychological aspects of the disease have been successful as well — with tandem cycling proving to be especially popular. Some New Yorkers even find relief by playing pingpong. 'I just can't get enough of it,' NYU economics professor Bill Easterly previously told The Post. 'When I play pingpong, I just feel my brain come alive.' Meanwhile, UCSF's Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR) is planning larger trials to further investigate psilocybin's potential. Advertisement If future studies confirm these findings, magic mushrooms could become a powerful new tool in the fight against Parkinson's. 'The vast majority of brain diseases still lack interventions that change the course of illness,' said the study's senior author and TrPR director Joshua Woolley. 'We can often treat the symptoms, but we don't alter the trajectory or prevent decline. Now, that's beginning to change. These results raise the exciting possibility that psilocybin may help the brain repair itself.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is MarineMax, Inc. (HZO) Among the Best Boating Stocks to Buy Now?
We recently published a list of the 10 Best Boating Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE:HZO) stands against other best boating stocks. The term 'boating stocks' refers to the shares of publicly traded companies in the recreational boating industry. These companies may manufacture boats, engines, marine parts, and accessories, or provide associated services such as marinas, boat dealerships, or charter businesses. As per the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the recreational boating industry in the United States supports 36,101 enterprises, 93% of which are small businesses, and 812,558 jobs, generating $230 billion in economic output yearly. New boat, engine, and accessory sales account for $20.3 billion of the $56.7 billion in annual sales of boats, engines, and maritime services. The industry brings in $26.9 billion in taxes, of which $16.3 billion is generated by the federal government and $10.6 billion from the states. Of the 12 million registered boats, 95% of those built in the United States are under 26 feet and towable. The fact that 61% of boat owners have family earnings of $75,000 or less is noteworthy and highlights how accessible the market is to middle-class Americans. The recreational boating industry began in 2025 with mixed data, reflecting overall economic uncertainty. According to the NMMA's January 2025 Monthly Data Summary, total new powerboat retail unit sales fell 8.2% year on year for the 12 months ending January 2025, showing continued consumer caution in the face of rising inflation and interest rates. However, January 2025 sales showed a slight growth, with retail unit sales up 1% year on year (7,809 vs. 7,765). This is the first January gain since 2021, pointing to selective customer participation. Freshwater fishing boats led the recovery, with retail sales rising 3.8% year on year, including a significant 19.8% increase in January alone. NMMA cites the category's affordability and its appeal to middle-income consumers. Despite this, wholesale shipments fell 23.2%, showing tighter inventory management and caution among dealers. January's Consumer Confidence Index fell marginally to 105.3, whereas inflation rose to 3.0%. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbed to 6.9%, and while the federal funds rate fell to 4.3%, higher borrowing costs continued to limit discretionary expenditure. A cautiously optimistic picture is painted by the aforementioned data, which shows that while consumer interest in value categories continues, macroeconomic challenges continue to limit overall momentum. Ellen Bradley, Chief Brand Officer for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), commented: 'The tariff headwinds and economic uncertainty we're seeing now, coupled with the glimmer of growth we saw in January before this really set in, underscore the importance of the industry leaning into nurturing demand amid Americans' desire for long-term value, wellness, and community–all of which being on the water uniquely delivers,' added Bradley. 'We're watching consumer behavior and confidence closely in order to nimbly manage our approach with everything from messaging to media to timing across our Discover Boating marketing. Bottom line, there's an opportunity right now to break through by helping people find ways to explore the memories and moments only boating can provide and to support and nurture that interest for long-term industry growth.' Veteran journalist and editor Ed Slack, recognized for leading IBI and TIME Inc.'s maritime business-to-business portfolio and for his global perspectives on the dynamics of the boating market, stated late in 2024 that, as anticipated market circumstances improved, the outlook for 2025 was cautiously positive. Affordability, value, and improving the user experience for both entry-level and luxury boating segments will be major themes. Though it needs to be reframed with distinct value propositions, sustainability is still crucial. Consumer fatigue calls for more than simply greener propulsion; it requires measurable results from Life Cycle Assessments. The fragmented electric boat market is forecasted to consolidate as some companies depart due to low volume and expensive models, while others shift to commercial markets. Europe's economy is still in a fragile state, but hopes for 2025 are being strengthened by stabilizing global inflation and interest rates. U.S. trade policy is still a wild card since tensions might be exacerbated by tariffs when Donald Trump takes office again on January 20. Similar changes in 2019 resulted in increased costs but also accelerated reshoring and supply chain resilience; yet, worldwide boating revenues increased by 2% in that year (ICOMIA Recreational Boating Statistics 2019). The industry is well-positioned for 2025, but it must remain flexible in the face of geopolitical turmoil. A large yacht sailing in the open sea with passengers enjoying the sunset. We sifted through online rankings to form an initial list of the 15 Boating Stocks. From the resultant dataset, we chose 10 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, using Insider Monkey's database of 1009 hedge funds in Q4 2024 to gauge hedge fund sentiment for stocks. We have used the stock's Market Cap as of April 15, 2025, as a tie-breaker in case two or more stocks have the same number of hedge funds invested. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21 Market cap as of April 15: $426.44 million MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE:HZO) is a US-based business that offers premium brands of new and used recreational boats along with engines, parts, and accessories. The company's additional ventures include boat and yacht brokerage sales, yacht charter operations, management of associated boat financing, insurance, and other matters, and repair, maintenance, and storage services. Product Manufacturing and Retail Operations are the firm's reportable divisions. The majority of the company's revenue is produced by the Retail Operations field and comes from the selling of both new and old boats. It caters to clients all around the United States. HZO is one of the best boating stocks to invest in. Notwithstanding a difficult retail climate, MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE:HZO)'s gross margin performance was strong, surpassing 36% throughout Q1 of 2025, due to sustained growth in higher-margin areas like marinas, super yacht services, finance, and insurance. By expanding its line of high-end products and introducing the Cruiser Yachts brand to every store in important Southern U.S. markets like Texas and West Florida, the company furthered its expansion strategy. The firm's non-boat and higher-margin income sources have expanded dramatically since 2019, bolstering more stable profit margins. The business anticipates that January revenue will rise year over year, showing a possibly favorable trend for the rest of the quarter. Ace River Capital stated the following regarding MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE:HZO) in its Q2 2024 investor letter: 'MarineMax, Inc. (NYSE:HZO) has received buyout interest from Island Capital and OneWater recently. This is positive news and serves as confirmation that the share price is indeed undervalued at these prices. My desire to have ownership in marinas and waterfront real estate in desirable areas is the main thesis for this investment. If a buyout occurs, I will have to reassess and may look to get similar exposure in the new company or elsewhere.' Overall, HZO ranks 4th on our list of the 10 Best Boating Stocks to Buy Now. While we acknowledge the potential of HZO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than HZO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
