Case Report Describes Speech and Mobility Gains in 83-Year-Old With Alzheimer’s After Psilocybin Doses

An 83-year-old woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 10 years ago received a single 5-gram oral dose of the Enigma strain of Psilocybe cubensis. She had been communicating primarily in monosyllables for years, experienced urinary incontinence and required assistance to move.

Approximately 19 hours after the dose, the woman initiated a conversation that included memories and reflections lasting about 4 hours.

In the weeks that followed, she regained urinary continence, began dressing herself independently and spontaneously entered conversations. Facial expressions became much more animated. She made prolonged eye contact, smiled responsively and moved with greater agility, Marcus Lago of the Ankh Cross Association in São Paulo, Brazil, said.

Approximately one month after the first dose, the woman received a second oral dose of 3 grams of the same mushroom strain. After the 3-gram dose, she described surfing with her son on a peaceful island. She selected and put on coordinated clothing independently, went to the television room expecting breakfast, recognised contextual details such as a rented car and noticed when someone was unexpectedly absent.

The case report was published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.