Ayahuasca for Older Adults

3 papers and 0 clinical trials exploring ayahuasca as a treatment for older adults.

Compoundclassic psychedelic

Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a botanical decoction combining DMT with MAO-inhibiting harmala alkaloids, producing intense psychedelic effects lasting 3-6 hours. Clinical trials show rapid, large antidepressant effects from a single dose, with a favourable safety profile in controlled settings.

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IndicationApproximately 300 million adults worldwide struggle with depression, many of whom are older adults.

Older Adults

Psychedelic research involving older adults is gaining traction, highlighting the potential therapeutic benefits of compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA. Recent studies suggest promising safety profiles and efficacy, paving the way for future clinical applications in this demographic.

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Academic Research

3 papers

Open Accessindividual

Efficacy and Safety of the Neuroplastogen TSND-201 for the Treatment of PTSD A Randomized Clinical Trial

In a multicentre, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled phase 2 trial of 65 adults with chronic PTSD, once‑weekly oral TSND‑201 produced significantly greater reductions in clinician‑rated PTSD severity (CAPS‑5; LS mean difference 9.64, P = .01) and improvements in self‑reported symptoms, functioning and depression versus placebo. TSND‑201 was generally well tolerated — common adverse events included headache, decreased appetite, nausea, dizziness and transient blood‑pressure increases — supporting its potential as a rapid‑acting, durable treatment for PTSD.

Published: February 18, 2026
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry
Authors: Jones, A., Warner-Schmidt, J., Kwak, H., Stogniew, M., Mandell, B., Ching, T. H., Stein, M. B., Kelmendi, B.

Open Accessindividual

Naturalistic psychedelic use and changes in depressive symptoms

This longitudinal observational study (n=12,345) of U.S. residents found that naturalistic psychedelic use (n=505, 4.1% of participants) was associated with modest increases in depressive symptoms, particularly when occurring in 'risk contexts' characterised by negative mindset and lack of psychological support, with challenging psychedelic experiences mediating this relationship and suggesting that unsupervised psychedelic use may not be generally therapeutic and could worsen depression under certain circumstances.

Published: December 1, 2025
Journal: Journal of Affective Disorders
Authors: Simonsson, O., Hendricks, P. S., Swords, C. M., Osika, W., Goldberg, S. B.

Paywallindividual

A Phase 1 single ascending dose study of pure oral harmine in healthy volunteers

In a Phase 1 open-label single ascending dose study in healthy adults, oral harmine hydrochloride had a weight-based maximum tolerated dose between 100–200 mg, with 90% of participants receiving >2.7 mg/kg experiencing dose-limiting toxicities. Doses below 2.7 mg/kg were generally well tolerated with minimal or no adverse events, whereas higher doses produced vomiting, drowsiness and limited psychoactivity; no serious adverse events were identified.

Published: September 20, 2024
Journal: Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors: Ables, J. L., Israel, L., Wood, O., Govindarajulu, U., Fremont, R. T., Banerjee, R., Liu, H., Cohen, J., Wang, P., Kumar, K., Lu, G., Devita, R. J., Garcia-Ocaña, A., Murrough, J. W., Stewart, A. F.

Clinical Trials

0 trials

No clinical trials have been tagged with both Ayahuasca and Older Adults yet.

Trials are continuously being added as new studies are registered.

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