A new study has brought hopeful news for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Psilocybin, a natural psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, may not only improve mood but also help with motor function in patients suffering from this neurodegenerative disorder.

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) conducted a small pilot study to test the effects of psilocybin on Parkinson’s patients. The participants — seven men and five women — had mild to moderate Parkinson’s and often experienced symptoms like anxiety and depression that typical medications struggle to manage.

During the study, each participant first received a 10 mg dose of psilocybin. Two weeks later, they were given a higher dose of 25 mg. The study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, found that the psychedelic treatment was well tolerated. Importantly, there were no serious side effects or worsening of Parkinson’s symptoms reported.

What surprised the researchers the most was the long-lasting impact. Even after the drug had cleared from the body, participants continued to show noticeable improvements in mood, cognitive ability, and movement for several weeks. This is the first time a psychedelic has been studied for use in a neurodegenerative condition like Parkinson’s.

“We are still in the very early stages of this work, but this first study went well beyond what we expected,” said Dr. Ellen Bradley, Assistant Professor and associate director of UCSF’s Translational Psychedelic Research Programme (TrPR). She emphasized the importance of targeting mood disorders in Parkinson’s. “Many people don’t realize this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson’s are linked to faster physical decline. They’re actually a stronger predictor of quality of life than even the motor symptoms,” she explained.

Parkinson’s disease affects movement due to abnormal brain activity and currently has no cure. Medications like levodopa can ease symptoms but do not slow the disease’s progression. Early warning signs often include tremors and a shuffling walk, but mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression — even in patients without a history of psychiatric issues — can appear years before physical signs emerge.

Although more research is needed, this early trial opens the door to exploring psychedelics as a future treatment option to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease.

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