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How ‘magic mushrooms’ could help Parkinson’s disease patients

  • Apr 28, 2025
  • 1 min read

Psilocybin just made history! A new UCSF pilot study tested it with people with Parkinson’s disease and found more than researchers expected. Participants not only tolerated the treatment, but many showed meaningful improvements in mood, cognition, and even motor function that lasted well beyond the dosing sessions.

 

This matters because mood symptoms in Parkinson’s are often a stronger predictor of quality of life than motor issues. Seeing improvements that lasted for weeks offers a promising direction for future research.

 

A larger clinical trial is already underway at UCSF and Yale, with support from the Michael J. Fox Foundation. It will help researchers understand how psilocybin affects inflammation, neuroplasticity, and overall functioning in a broader group of patients.


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