Mon Jul 5, 2021, 11:42 AM

Richard D (8,137 posts)

Single dose of psilocybin spurs growth of neural connections lost in depression

The psychedelic drug psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound found in some mushrooms, has been studied as a potential treatment for depression for years. But exactly how it works in the brain and how long beneficial results might last is still unclear.

In a new study, Yale researchers show that a single dose of psilocybin given to mice prompted an immediate and long-lasting increase in connections between neurons. The findings are published July 5 in the journal Neuron.

"We not only saw a 10% increase in the number of neuronal connections, but also they were on average about 10% larger, so the connections were stronger as well," said Yale's Alex Kwan, associate professor of psychiatry and of neuroscience and senior author of the paper.

Previous laboratory experiments had shown promise that psilocybin, as well as the anesthetic ketamine, can decrease depression. The new Yale research found that these compounds increase the density of dendritic spines, small protrusions found on nerve cells which aid in the transmission of information between neurons. Chronic stress and depression are known to reduce the number of these neuronal connections.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210705113923.htm

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67 replies	Author	Time	Post
Single dose of psilocybin spurs growth of neural connections lost in depression (Original post)	Richard D	Jul 2021	OP
I wonder if psilocybin might help with Alzheimer's?	BComplex	Jul 2021	#1
This is a very good question . . .	Richard D	Jul 2021	#2
That was my first thought	peggysue2	Jul 2021	#7
I wonder if it would be helpful for us MS patients, too?	LiberalLoner	Jul 2021	#8
That was my thought as well.	Ellipsis	Jul 2021	#13
Repairs Of Lesions?	ProfessorGAC	Jul 2021	#48
I have a good friend with MS and she's been taking it for several years	Goddessartist	Jul 2021	#57
Cool! If it ever becomes legal I might try it. I don't like the idea of being impaired but I do	LiberalLoner	Jul 2021	#59
Not only psilocybin but LSD too helps with Alzheimer's.	panader0	Jul 2021	#18
My very first thought	Hekate	Jul 2021	#20
Exactly. My question too.	Captain Zero	Jul 2021	#26
amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles	nvme	Jul 2021	#35
You would have to stay with the patient while they are Under the Influence.	flying_wahini	Jul 2021	#61
Hmmm, I could use some of that.	triron	Jul 2021	#3
when do they need human study volunteers?	eShirl	Jul 2021	#4
My God how do I get some?	Saoirse9	Jul 2021	#5
first you find a cow	azureblue	Jul 2021	#16
Cow Pies to the rescue !	Captain Zero	Jul 2021	#27
I happen to live across the street from a cow	Saoirse9	Jul 2021	#32
Doesn't have to be fresh cow manure. Just where some was dropped.	elevator	Jul 2021	#42
Because some people	H2O Man	Jul 2021	#17
That's a bummer I have no source for them	Saoirse9	Jul 2021	#22
There are states	H2O Man	Jul 2021	#24
You can order the spores on-line and grow your own.	elevator	Jul 2021	#43
Cool!	Saoirse9	Jul 2021	#44
You can order spores, but not dried mushrooms. Spores are legal because they don't contain	Lochloosa	Jul 2021	#49
The Psilocybin cubensis mushroom is everywhere there's a cow or horse pasture in Florida.	Ligyron	Jul 2021	#30
I have a friend	H2O Man	Jul 2021	#39
It seems to me that things were pretty much ok with just the psychedelics and weed.	Ligyron	Jul 2021	#41
THIS	lookyhereyou	Jul 2021	#64
I was in grad scholl at UGA in Athens, Ga. in 1973-74.	elevator	Jul 2021	#45
That was a great era to be young for sure.	Ligyron	Jul 2021	#46
Wish I could get my hands on some of that.	Crunchy Frog	Jul 2021	#37
While I respect that	H2O Man	Jul 2021	#40
While the mushrooms are illegal	Danascot	Jul 2021	#29
Read Michael Pollan's "how to change your mind"	Javaman	Jul 2021	#65
Good tip I will read it! Thanks!	Saoirse9	Jul 2021	#66
It really is something . . .	Richard D	Jul 2021	#6
Yet my guy can't get shit	superpatriotman	Jul 2021	#9
I guess that would explain....	SergeStorms	Jul 2021	#10
I used to practice the same ritual, back in the day. I lived in a house in the country with cow	japple	Jul 2021	#34
Nothing like cow patty 'shrooms.....	SergeStorms	Jul 2021	#38
They released a study a year or two ago	IbogaProject	Jul 2021	#11
I guess I need to hit the cow pasture for some shrooms.	Chainfire	Jul 2021	#12
Oregon	Timewas	Jul 2021	#14
Excellent!	calimary	Jul 2021	#47
Let's hope this leads to a "cure" for depression, a dreadful disorder. nt	Hortensis	Jul 2021	#15
Rather than a cure,	H2O Man	Jul 2021	#19
Yes. I should have said better treatment, but I was excited by	Hortensis	Jul 2021	#25
Many years ago,	H2O Man	Jul 2021	#28
Psilocybin can provide a wonderful ease at life's end.	quaint	Jul 2021	#21
K&R!	SheltieLover	Jul 2021	#23
Dangerous to pick random wild fungi	FakeNoose	Jul 2021	#31
I wish I could get psychedelic therapy	I_UndergroundPanther	Jul 2021	#33
Not a very interesting finding	Loki Liesmith	Jul 2021	#36
I think I heard a report that it or LSD is being tested in humans	Ilsa	Jul 2021	#50
K & R	Duppers	Jul 2021	#51
This kind of research is something they should really pick up the pace on.	smirkymonkey	Jul 2021	#52
Interesting	burrowowl	Jul 2021	#53
When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go	struggle4progress	Jul 2021	#54
I've been known to burst into song with "White Rabbit" from time to time	Wicked Blue	Jul 2021	#56
K&R	Blue Owl	Jul 2021	#55
I must have some really awesome neural pathways.	BobTheSubgenius	Jul 2021	#58
DC decriminalized it earlier this year	IronLionZion	Jul 2021	#60
Vaccinated mushrooms?	malthaussen	Jul 2021	#62
Huh. I just thought it was because I'm a happy idiot.	Roisin Ni Fiachra	Jul 2021	#63
I had a buddy that was a grower some years ago.	panader0	Jul 2021	#67

Response to Richard D (Original post)

Mon Jul 5, 2021, 12:03 PM

BComplex (6,963 posts)

1. I wonder if psilocybin might help with Alzheimer's?

The new Yale research found that these compounds increase the density of dendritic spines, small protrusions found on nerve cells which aid in the transmission of information between neurons. Chronic stress and depression are known to reduce the number of these neuronal connections.

It would seem like those dendritic spines might be part of what happens to the brain of Alzheimer's patients?

Single dose of psilocybin spurs growth of neural connections lost in depression

1. I wonder if psilocybin might help with Alzheimer's?

2. This is a very good question . . .

7. That was my first thought

8. I wonder if it would be helpful for us MS patients, too?

13. That was my thought as well.

48. Repairs Of Lesions?

57. I have a good friend with MS and she's been taking it for several years

59. Cool! If it ever becomes legal I might try it. I don't like the idea of being impaired but I do

18. Not only psilocybin but LSD too helps with Alzheimer's.

20. My very first thought

26. Exactly. My question too.

35. amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles

61. You would have to stay with the patient while they are Under the Influence.

3. Hmmm, I could use some of that.

4. when do they need human study volunteers?

5. My God how do I get some?

16. first you find a cow

27. Cow Pies to the rescue !

32. I happen to live across the street from a cow

42. Doesn't have to be fresh cow manure. Just where some was dropped.

17. Because some people

22. That's a bummer I have no source for them

24. There are states

43. You can order the spores on-line and grow your own.

44. Cool!

49. You can order spores, but not dried mushrooms. Spores are legal because they don't contain

30. The Psilocybin cubensis mushroom is everywhere there's a cow or horse pasture in Florida.

39. I have a friend

41. It seems to me that things were pretty much ok with just the psychedelics and weed.

64. THIS

45. I was in grad scholl at UGA in Athens, Ga. in 1973-74.

46. That was a great era to be young for sure.

37. Wish I could get my hands on some of that.

40. While I respect that

29. While the mushrooms are illegal

65. Read Michael Pollan's "how to change your mind"

66. Good tip I will read it! Thanks!

6. It really is something . . .

9. Yet my guy can't get shit

10. I guess that would explain....

34. I used to practice the same ritual, back in the day. I lived in a house in the country with cow

38. Nothing like cow patty 'shrooms.....

11. They released a study a year or two ago

12. I guess I need to hit the cow pasture for some shrooms.

14. Oregon

47. Excellent!

15. Let's hope this leads to a "cure" for depression, a dreadful disorder. nt

19. Rather than a cure,

25. Yes. I should have said better treatment, but I was excited by

28. Many years ago,

21. Psilocybin can provide a wonderful ease at life's end.

23. K&R!

31. Dangerous to pick random wild fungi

33. I wish I could get psychedelic therapy

36. Not a very interesting finding

50. I think I heard a report that it or LSD is being tested in humans

51. K & R

52. This kind of research is something they should really pick up the pace on.

53. Interesting

54. When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go

56. I've been known to burst into song with "White Rabbit" from time to time

55. K&R

58. I must have some really awesome neural pathways.

60. DC decriminalized it earlier this year

62. Vaccinated mushrooms?

63. Huh. I just thought it was because I'm a happy idiot.

67. I had a buddy that was a grower some years ago.