AI Generated Image
Psilocybin May Prevent Nerve Damage Caused by Chemotherapy, Study Finds
nytimes.com • • health
Key Points:
- A study published in Science suggests that psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms, may prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a painful nerve damage affecting about two-thirds of chemotherapy patients.
- Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that mice given psilocybin before chemotherapy were protected from nerve damage, with effects lasting through six chemo sessions and persisting for eight months.
- The psilocybin treatment did not affect tumor growth or immune response, indicating it is safe for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- Human clinical trials based on these findings are set to begin soon, potentially offering a revolutionary approach to improving quality of life for millions of cancer patients.
- Currently, no effective treatments exist for CIPN, which can cause lasting pain and numbness and often forces patients to reduce or stop chemotherapy.
