Psilocybin prevents chemotherapy-induced nerve damage in new preclinical study

A new preclinical study has revealed that psilocybin, the active compound found in magic mushrooms, may prevent chemotherapy-induced nerve damage in mice. The research, published in Science, indicates that administering psilocybin prior to chemotherapy can protect nerve fibers by maintaining the movement and function of cellular powerhouses called mitochondria.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of cancer treatment, causing pain, numbness, and heightened sensitivity to cold. The study, led by Patrick M. Dougherty and Moran Amit, found that psilocybin activates the serotonin 2A receptor, which is involved in both nerve adaptability and mitochondrial regulation.

The researchers administered psilocybin to mice before they received common chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and paclitaxel, and monitored the animals over eight months. They discovered that just two doses of psilocybin prevented the development of pain, numbness, and cold sensitivity typically caused by chemotherapy. Importantly, psilocybin did not reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy in killing cancer cells.

The protective effects of psilocybin were found to operate through two pathways – in the brain, it normalized electrical activity disrupted by chronic pain, while in the peripheral body, it directly protected the sensory nerve endings in the skin by preventing mitochondrial stall. These findings offer promising insights into the potential of psilocybin as a preventive treatment for chemotherapy-induced nerve damage, without compromising the efficacy of cancer treatment.