Psychedelics go beneath the cell surface to unleash their potentially therapeutic effects.
These drugs are showing promise in clinical trials as treatments for mental health disorders (SN: 12/3/21). Now, scientists might know why. These substances can get inside nerve cells in the cortex — the brain region important for consciousness — and tell the neurons to grow, researchers report in the Feb. 17 Science.
Several mental health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, are tied to chronic stress, which degrades neurons in the cortex over time. Scientists have long thought that repairing the cells could provide therapeutic benefits, like lowered anxiety and improved mood.
Psychedelics — including psilocin, which comes from magic mushrooms, and LSD — do that repairing by promoting the growth of nerve cell branches that receive information, called dendrites (SN: 11/17/20). The behavior might explain the drugs’ positive outcomes in research. But how they trigger cell growth was a mystery.
It was already known that, in cortical neurons, psychedelics activate a certain protein that receives signals and gives instructions to cells. This protein, called the 5-HT2A receptor, is also stimulated by serotonin, a chemical made by the body and implicated in mood. But a study in 2018 determined that serotonin doesn’t make these neurons grow. That finding “was really leaving us scratching our heads,” says chemical neuroscientist David Olson, director of the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics at the University of California, Davis.
2023-02-16 14:00:00
Source from www.sciencenews.org
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in exploring the potential of psychedelics to enhance nerve cell function and improve mental health. This shift is due in part to the growing evidence of the positive effects of psychedelics on mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as their potential to aid creativity and problem solving.
Psychedelics are naturally occurring psychoactive substances found in various plants and fungi. They are known to increase perception, cause changes in thought processes and emotions, and can produce intense visual, auditory and tactile effects.
The potential therapeutic use of psychedelics has been explored in a range of studies. A recent review of research found that the use of psychedelics could help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve outlook and cognitive abilities, and even create long-term changes in brain structure and function.
Psychedelics have also been found to be beneficial in improving the ability of nerve cells to communicate. This occurs through their actions on the neurotransmitter serotonin, which governs many aspects of mental health. Studies have shown that psychedelic drugs can increase serotonin activity in certain brain areas, leading to reduced anxiety and improved mood.
In addition to the potential to improve nerve cell functions, psychedelics could also prove to be powerful tools in developing new treatments for mental health conditions. Researchers believe that the use of psychedelics could help to open new pathways in the brain, allowing new therapeutic approaches to be developed to treat conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Furthermore, there is evidence that psychedelics could help to improve creativity and problem solving abilities, making them potentially useful in a range of settings from scientific research to education and the workplace.
Although the potential benefits of psychedelics are becoming increasingly clear, there is still a great deal of work to be done before these drugs can be used in clinical settings. More research is needed to establish the safety profile of these drugs and develop protocols for their use.
Ultimately, as we continue to explore the potential of psychedelics to enhance nerve cell function and improve mental health, it is important to remember that they should be used with caution, under the guidance of an experienced healthcare professional.