Alzheimer's Patient Initiates Conversations After Psilocybin Doses

An 83-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 10 years ago began initiating conversations that included memories and reflections after receiving a 5-gram oral dose of the Enigma strain of Psilocybe cubensis. @NewScientist reported that the woman had communicated primarily in monosyllables for years, required assistance to move, and had urinary incontinence before treatment.

With consent from her son, the dose was administered by the Ankh Cross Association in São Paulo, Brazil.

She initially sweated profusely and entered a prolonged deep sleep-like state. Approximately 19 hours later, she spoke for about four hours. In the following weeks she regained urinary continence, dressed herself independently, and spontaneously started conversations.

Her facial expressions became more animated, she made prolonged eye contact, smiled responsively, and moved with greater agility. ” About one month after the first dose she received a second oral dose of 3 grams of the same strain. Afterward she described surfing with her son on a peaceful island, selected coordinated clothing on her own, went to the television room expecting breakfast, recognized a rented car, and noticed when someone was absent.

The case report was published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience. David Nutt at Imperial College London said he has heard of similar reports of psychedelics improving function in people with neurodegenerative decline. Rudolph Tanzi at Harvard University said the findings suggest a trial may be warranted, while Albert Garcia-Romeu at Johns Hopkins University raised concerns about the high dose, lack of long-term follow-up, and reliance on a single case without biomarker confirmation of the diagnosis.