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Updated: May 12, 2026

Preparation of Acute Hippocampal Slices from Rats and Transgenic Mice for the Study of Synaptic Alterations during Aging and Amyloid Pathology
Published on: March 23, 2011
Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice
Kosuke Kato1,2, Jennifer M Kleinhenz1,3, Yoon-Joo Shin1
1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Abstract:
Psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms, has received attention due to considerable clinical evidence for its therapeutic potential to treat various psychiatric and neurodegenerative indications. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain enigmatic, and few studies have explored its systemic impacts. We provide the first experimental evidence that psilocin (the active metabolite of psilocybin) treatment extends cellular lifespan and psilocybin treatment promotes increased longevity in aged mice, suggesting that psilocybin may be a potent geroprotective agent.

