Study Shows Psychedelics Can Help With Dementia

Psychedelic therapy has been known to have positive effects on people suffering with depression and anxiety and the latest research backs this up. And recently a study suggests that psychedelics can also decrease dementia and maintain overall cognitive abilities in elderly adults. 

According to the study published in Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine journal, middle-aged and older adults who received psychedelic therapy showed positive impact on their cognition and were able to treat various mental health problems without any long-lasting adverse effects. 

Using surveys from MIDUS (Midlife in the United States), researchers looked at data from over 3,000 respondents aged 42 to 92 years old who regularly used any psychedelic including LSD, marijuana or any other hallucinogens ( PCP, Angel dust, Peyote, Ecstasy (MDMA), Mescaline, etc). 

They measured the respondents’ episodic memory and executive function and concluded that although psychedelic use did not affect episodic memory, it did improve cognitive function, assessed by executive function. This was correlated with psychedelics’ positive effect in treating depression which is often associated with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. 

Psychedelic therapy offers a gentler alternative to treat depression 

Several studies have shown that all it takes is a single dose of psilocybin to reduce symptoms of depression after 6 weeks. After one of two doses people reportedly experienced sustained relief from the symptoms of major depressive disorder without long-term negative effects. The latter part is especially relevant for older adults who may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of conventional medication. 

Current antidepressants have been known to cause diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and headaches. In older adults it can lead to a significant drop in sodium levels (hyponatremia) and cause reduced appetite, confusion, seizures, agitation, psychosis, tiredness, and coma. 

The aging population has caused an increase in mental and physical health issues which impair their independence and quality of life. Health professionals need to recognize the significant benefits that psychedelic therapy can have on their patients’ cognitive functions and mental wellbeing. Furthermore, professionals must also ensure that they are well equipped to take care of their patients’ emotional well being as hallucinations during therapy can be overwhelming. 

Lastly, the researchers called for the decriminalization of psychedelic therapy so that more research can be conducted to ensure more valid and reliable findings in the future. At present medical marijuana is only legal in 38 states and recently the DEA has made moves to reclassify it under Schedule III ‘less dangerous drug.’