Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in mushrooms, may protect telomeres, the structures found at the ends of DNA that are known to shrink with age. (Image credit: Saska RF via Shutterstock)
A lab study has shown that psilocybin, the main psychoactive component of magic mushrooms, helps extend the lifespan of human cells. Scientists have also found that the psychedelic compound slows some signs of aging in older mice while improving the condition of their fur.
The study results, published July 8 in the journal npj Aging, represent the first experimental data confirming the potential anti-aging properties of psilocybin.
“This study provides a unique window into the potential of psychedelics to support healthy aging and offers a provocative mechanism for how they do so,” Scott Thompson, a professor in the University of Colorado's department of psychiatry who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email.
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