Magic Mushrooms Slow Down the Aging Process in Mice – Could They Do the Same for Humans?

A recent study published in Nature Partner Journals’ Aging shows that psilocin, a byproduct of consuming psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, extends the lifespan of human skin and lung cells by more than 50%.

How Psychedelic Mushrooms Slow Down the Aging Process

In parallel, the researchers also conducted the first long-term study in vivo investigating the systemic effects of psilocybin in old mice aged 19 months, which corresponds to 60 to 65 years in humans. The results showed that mice that initially received a low dose of 5 mg of psilocybin, followed by a high dose of 15 mg per month over a period of 10 months, had a 30% higher survival rate than mice that did not receive psilocybin. These mice also exhibited healthier physical characteristics, such as improved coat quality, fewer white hairs, and hair growth.

While psilocybin has traditionally been studied for its positive effects on mental health, this study suggests that it influences several hallmarks of aging by reducing oxidative stress, improving DNA repair responses, and maintaining telomere length. Telomeres are the structured ends of a chromosome that protect it from damage that can lead to the development of age-related diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, or cardiovascular disease. These fundamental processes influence human aging and the onset of these chronic diseases. The study concludes that psilocybin has the potential to revolutionize anti-aging therapies and could be an effective measure for an aging population.

“Most cells in the body express serotonin receptors, and this study opens up new perspectives on how psilocybin could influence systemic aging processes, especially when administered later in life,” said Dr. Louise Hecker, lead author of the study and former associate professor at Emory University, where the research was initiated and funded. While much of the researchers’ knowledge about psilocybin relates to the brain, few studies have examined its systemic effects. Many people associate psilocybin with hallucinogenic effects, but most cells in the body express serotonin receptors.

Better Quality of Life in Old Age

“Our study raises new questions about what long-term treatments can achieve. In addition, even when started late in life, the intervention leads to improved survival rates in mice, which is clinically relevant for healthy aging,” adds Hecker, who is currently an associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine.

According to Dr. Ali John Zarrabi, director of psychedelic research at Emory University’s Department of Psychiatry, this study provides strong preclinical evidence that psilocybin may contribute to healthier aging—not just longer life, but better quality of life in old age. Zarrabi emphasized the importance of further research in older adults, as well as the well-documented overlaps between physical and mental health.