How Do Psychedelics Battle Stress? Scientists Find Their Influence Extends Beyond the Brain
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Summary
Scientists have found that the psychedelic drugs psilocybin and MDMA work in mice not only within the brain, but also by acting on the immune system, altering the way two types of brain cell and a type of immune cell interact to create a balancing effect on fear and stress.
Previous studies have shown that stress and depression are associated with low levels of serotonin, the “happy” hormone, and psychedelics are known to increase serotonin levels.
The team utilised mouse models to show how immune cells played a crucial role in this interaction as they reached the brain during times of stress.
In a press release, study author Michael Wheeler at Brigham and Women’s Hospital said the finding “could reshape how we think about treatment for inflammatory disorders and conditions like anxiety and depression.”
