Thread by @davidasinclair

Still struck by the dramatic effects of psilocybin on mouse health & lifespan 🍄‍🟫

Here’s some info about this molecule & where people obtain it: 🧵…

Over 180 mushroom species contain psilocybin, including Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata (Liberty caps), and others

These mushrooms grow in various regions worldwide, often in damp grasslands or forested areas

Psilocybin is a Schedule I controlled substance federally—illegal to buy, possess, or use outside of approved research

Effects include altered perception, mood changes, and changes in thought patterns

It’s being actively researched for potential benefits in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders

Oregon and Colorado have legalized / decriminalized psilocybin for supervised therapeutic use. Some cities, eg Denver, Oakland, Seattle also decriminalized possession

In Oregon and Colorado, psilocybin services are available via licensed facilitators

Laws vary internationally. It’s legal in some places (eg Jamaica, Brazil), decriminalized in others, and strictly illegal in many countries

The study published in July by Kato et al. shows that psilocybin via psilocin) extended the “lifespan” of cultured human skin and lung cells by over 50–57% & delayed aging signs like reduced ox stress and telomere shortening

Aged female mice (19 months old, roughly equivalent to humans aged 60–65) were treated with psilocybin monthly (initially 5 mg/kg, then 15 mg/kg for 10 months)

Although the lifespan study wasn’t finished, it is clear that there is a survival difference, even at this stage. Looking forward to seeing the final result

Psilocin notably increased levels of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a protein known to regulate cellular aging, oxidative stress, and DNA repair, which might explain these results in part

But I bet there’s another explanation…here’s the paper
nature.com/articles/s4151…