Emory University has published a landmark study in npj Aging showing for the first time that psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin (found in psychedelic mushrooms), can significantly slow cellular aging and extend lifespan—both in human cells and in aged mice.
In laboratory tests, human skin and lung fibroblasts treated with psilocin displayed a dramatic increase in lifespan—up to 57% longer before reaching replicative senescence, compared to untreated cells. Lower concentrations yielded about 29% lifespan extension, while a 100 µM dose produced the maximum effect. Treated cells also showed preserved telomere length, reduced oxidative stress markers, and elevated levels of longevity-associated proteins such as SIRT1.
The team then tested systemic effects in 19-month-old female mice—an age roughly equivalent to a 60–65-year-old human. Over 10 months, mice received an initial low dose followed by monthly higher doses, resulting in about 30% greater survival versus controls. Around 80% of treated mice were alive at the end of the study compared to about 50% of untreated animals. Notably, treated mice appeared healthier overall, showing better fur condition, less greying, and some hair regrowth.
Researchers observed that psilocin appears to act on several hallmarks of aging. It helped preserve telomere length, activated DNA repair pathways, and reduced oxidative stress and cellular inflammation. It also activated SIRT1, a protein associated with longevity. These findings offer support for the emerging theory that psychedelics may influence aging through direct molecular mechanisms, rather than just through mental health improvements.
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Lead author Dr. Louise Hecker, formerly with Emory and now at Baylor College of Medicine, stated that most cells in the body express serotonin receptors, and this study opens a new frontier for how psilocybin could influence systemic aging, particularly when administered later in life. Dr. Ali John Zarrabi, Director of Psychedelic Research at Emory, emphasized that the treated mice not only lived longer but appeared to age more gracefully—with better quality of life in later years.
While the study stands out for its rigorous approach, experts caution that human application remains exploratory and requires extensive clinical trials. Psychedelics can pose cardiovascular and psychological risks, particularly when used outside medical settings. Proper dosing, timing, and long-term effects are all still unknown in humans.
Psilocybin has already drawn attention for its mental health benefits in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. Now, its potential in treating age-related diseases and slowing cellular degeneration offers a new frontier. Over 150 clinical trials have explored psilocybin’s use in people, but none have focused yet on long-term anti-aging effects.
Other emerging anti-aging technologies, such as cellular reprogramming with Yamanaka factors, have also extended animal lifespans by similar percentages. However, they carry risks like tumor formation and require invasive gene therapies. If proven safe, psilocin might offer a simpler pharmacological route to enhancing longevity.
Researchers stress that robust clinical safety trials are essential before any human applications. Key unanswered questions include ideal dosages, age of intervention, potential side effects, and applicability across diverse populations.
By demonstrating delayed cellular aging and survival benefits in elderly mice, the Emory study positions psilocin as a compelling candidate for future geroprotective therapies. While human use remains in the early stages, the findings represent a major advance in understanding how psychedelics could influence aging at the cellular level.
