The UCSF team, led by Dr. Ellen Bradley, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the university’s Translational Psychedelic Research Programme (TrPR), conducted a pilot study involving 12 participants—seven men and five women—with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, may offer promising benefits for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The compound, known for its effectiveness in treating depression and anxiety, has now shown potential in improving both mood and motor symptoms in patients with this progressive neurodegenerative condition.
Parkinson’s disease is commonly recognized for its motor-related symptoms—such as tremors, rigidity, and slowed movement—but many patients also suffer from serious mood disturbances including anxiety and depression. These non-motor symptoms are often overlooked but are known to drastically impact the quality of life. In fact, researchers note that mood dysfunction may be a stronger predictor of life quality in Parkinson’s patients than motor impairment itself.
The UCSF team, led by Dr. Ellen Bradley, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the university’s Translational Psychedelic Research Programme (TrPR), conducted a pilot study involving 12 participants—seven men and five women—with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. The participants were administered a low dose of 10 mg of psilocybin, followed two weeks later by a higher dose of 25 mg.
The findings, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, revealed that psilocybin was well-tolerated by all participants, with no serious side effects or exacerbation of symptoms. More importantly, the study showed sustained and clinically meaningful improvements in mood, cognition, and motor function that persisted for weeks beyond the presence of the drug in their systems.
“We are still in the very early stages of this work, but this first study went well beyond what we expected,” said Dr. Bradley. “Many people don’t realise this, but mood symptoms in Parkinson’s are linked to a faster physical decline. And they are actually a stronger predictor of patients’ quality of life with Parkinson’s than their motor symptoms.”
This research marks a groundbreaking moment, as it is the first time a psychedelic drug has been tested in patients with any neurodegenerative disease. Traditionally, Parkinson’s is managed with medications like levodopa, which help relieve symptoms but do not alter the progression of the disease. Despite decades of research, no approved therapies currently exist to slow or reverse the degenerative process.
Interestingly, mood disturbances such as anxiety and depression often appear years before the motor symptoms in Parkinson’s patients, even among those with no prior psychiatric history. The researchers suggest that these mood issues could be part of the disease’s early neurodegenerative process. Unfortunately, standard antidepressants and psychiatric medications are frequently ineffective for this group of patients, highlighting the need for alternative treatment strategies.
The study’s success opens new avenues for further research into psychedelics as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. While the results are preliminary and the sample size was small, they are encouraging enough to prompt larger clinical trials to validate the findings and determine long-term safety and efficacy.
“This could be a new chapter in how we approach treatment for Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Bradley, “and perhaps even other brain disorders with overlapping symptoms.” As scientists continue to explore the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, psilocybin could represent a meaningful breakthrough for Parkinson’s patients who currently face limited options for managing both their emotional and physical health.
