Could Psychedelics Help Us Age Better?
Albert Hofmann, the Swiss scientist who discovered LSD, lived to the remarkable age of 102. Was that simply the result of good genes, a good diet or a healthy lifestyle, or is there more to the story? No one knows the answer. But researchers are beginning to ask an intriguing question: Could psychedelics help people live longer and stay healthier as they age?
People are living longer than ever before, but many of those extra years are spent coping with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, dementia, diabetes, arthritis, and depression. Because of this, researchers are increasingly interested not just in helping people live longer, but in helping them live healthier for longer. The modern term for this period of people’s lives is called ‘healthspan’ and broadly speaking it means a period of life free of major impairments in function (disability, frailty), serious chronic diseases, and poor quality.
The connection between psychedelics and the healthspan is no longer just speculation. Recent laboratory research found that psilocybin extended the lifespan of human cells and improved survival in aged mice, providing the first direct evidence that psychedelics may influence biological aging. Whether these findings apply to humans remains unknown, but they have sparked growing interest in the relationship between psychedelics and healthy aging.
My new paper dives into the growing scientific evidence, ultimately concluding that psychedelics may influence many of the biological, psychological, and social factors that determine how well we age.
Paper co-author Tina Woods had this to say about their recent publication:
“This paper represents an important shift in longevity science that has focused primarily on the biology of ageing until now. We are now recognising that our social and emotional lives are also powerful biological exposures. Psychedelics are one example of an intervention that may influence not only brain biology but also meaning, connection and psychological wellbeing. My own work explores this broader concept through the ‘positive psychosocial exposome’- how experiences such as music, movement, creativity, community and collective joy become measurable exposures that shape health across the life course. The exciting opportunity now is to understand how different positive psychosocial interventions may help build resilience and extend healthspan in wider, more mainstream populations.”
My co-authors and I argue that psychedelics should be included in this research because they appear to affect both biology and psychology at the same time. Below, I outline their potential influences across the systems in our bodies that influence healthy aging.
One of the strongest areas of evidence for psychedelics and longevity involves the brain.
As we age, our brains gradually become less flexible. Learning new things becomes harder, memory may decline, and the brain loses some of its ability to reorganize itself after injury or disease. Scientists refer to this flexibility as the brain’s neuroplasticity.
Animal studies have shown increased growth of neural connections after a single dose of psilocybin, and some human brain imaging studies suggest psychedelics temporarily increase communication between different parts of the brain. Laboratory studies have found that even brief exposure to psychedelics can stimulate the growth of new connections between brain cells and encourage the formation of healthier neural networks.
These findings may help explain why psychedelic-assisted therapy often produces lasting psychological improvements after only one or a few treatment sessions.
We emphasize that no research has proven that psychedelics prevent dementia or slow cognitive aging in humans. However, the evidence is strong enough to justify studying this possibility.
Reducing Harmful Inflammation
As people age, many develop a state of persistent, low-level inflammation sometimes called “inflammaging.” This chronic inflammation contributes to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, frailty, and many other illnesses.
Laboratory research suggests that several psychedelic compounds may reduce inflammatory signaling through mechanisms different from conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. Some early human studies have also found reductions in inflammatory markers after psilocybin or ayahuasca.
Although these findings are encouraging, researchers still do not know whether these effects are direct or whether they occur because people experience reduced stress, better mental health, or healthier lifestyles after psychedelic experiences. More research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Our paper argues that one of psychedelics’ greatest contributions to healthy aging may come through improving mental health.
Conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders are increasingly recognized as factors that accelerate biological aging. People suffering from these conditions often experience higher rates of chronic disease and shorter life expectancy.
If psychedelic treatments reduce chronic stress, improve emotional wellbeing, and help people recover from addiction, they may indirectly support healthier aging in the body.
The Importance of Relationships
Social connection is one of the strongest predictors of a long life. People with strong social relationships generally live longer and enjoy better physical and mental health than those who are isolated.
We suggest these social changes could improve health over our lifespan because supportive relationships reduce stress, encourage healthy behaviors, and improve emotional resilience.
Meaning, Purpose, and Healthy Living
People who feel their lives have meaning generally experience better health and lower mortality. In clinical trials, many participants describe their psychedelic experiences as among the most meaningful events of their lives. Studies have also confirmed lasting increases in purpose, life satisfaction, and psychological wellbeing.
Evidence also suggests that psychedelics may encourage healthier behaviors, including lasting reductions in harmful substance use and improvements in overall wellbeing.
In our paper we are careful to stress that psychedelics should be taken with caution. If psychedelics are eventually used to support healthy aging, careful medical screening and professional supervision will remain essential.
Physically, psychedelics can temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure, and some (such as ibogaine) have particularly high cardiac risk. Older adults, especially those with heart disease, who take multiple medications, or have other medical conditions should be especially careful.
Psychologically, people with psychotic disorders or certain forms of bipolar disorder are recommended to avoid psychedelics as it may worsen their conditions.
Human research is still in its early stages, and there is currently no proof that psychedelics slow aging or extend human lifespan. As such, psychedelics should not currently be viewed as anti-aging drugs. Instead, we have direct, credible evidence that psychedelics are systems-level interventions capable of improving many interconnected aspects of health, including mental wellbeing, stress regulation, healthy behavior, social relationship.
However, there is intriguing laboratory evidence suggesting possible effects on biological aging, most of which comes from studies using cells and animals. We argue that the potential association between psychedelics and the biological processes associated with aging is scientifically credible and deserves more attention. Future clinical studies should begin measuring aging itself using biological markers, cognitive function, physical health, quality of life, and long-term follow-up to determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapies truly influence healthspan.