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Home/Research/Psilocybin/Older Adults

Psilocybin for Older Adults

24 papers and 4 clinical trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for older adults.

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

Full Psilocybin profile
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.

Full Older Adults profile

Academic Research

24 papers
Open Accessindividual

Age moderates the relationship between psychedelics use and mental health in naturalistic settings

This cross-sectional survey (n=1,088) found that age significantly moderates the relationship between lifetime psychedelic use and mental health, with classic psychedelics such as psilocybin being associated with lower depression and anxiety in younger adults, but these benefits diminish with age and even reverse for anxiety in older participants.

Published
March 10, 2026
Journal
Research Square
Authors
Gregorio, G. D., Basset, S., Manmohan, H., Nixon, W. C., Pogaku, A., Zhou, J., Sanderson, D. J., Lengieza, M. L., Bocchio, M.
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.
Open Accessindividual

Single-dose (10 mg) psilocybin reduces symptoms in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A pharmacological challenge study

This open-label study (n=19) found that 10mg oral psilocybin produced a significant reduction in OCD symptoms compared to 1mg, with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.82) one week after dosing, particularly for compulsions rather than obsessions, though effects diminished over subsequent weeks.

Published
October 1, 2025
Journal
Comprehensive Psychiatry
Authors
Pellegrini, L., Fineberg, N. A., O'Connor, S., Pereira De Souza, A. M. F. L., Godfrey, K., Reed, S., Peill, J. M., Healy, C. J., Rohani-Shukla, C., Lee, H., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Robbins, T. W., Nutt, D. J., Erritzoe, D.
Open Accessindividual

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for depression and anxiety associated with life threatening illness: A phase 2b randomized controlled trial

This double-blind placebo-controlled trial (n=35) found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (25mg) significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in adults with life-threatening illnesses compared to an active placebo (100mg niacin), with benefits sustained at 26 weeks and improvements in spiritual well-being, quality of life, demoralisation, and death anxiety.

Published
September 1, 2025
Journal
General Hospital Psychiatry
Authors
Ross, M. L., Iyer, R., Williams, M. L., Boughey, M., O'callaghan, C., Hiscock, R., Dwyer, J.
Open Accessmeta

Control Group Outcomes in Trials of Psilocybin, SSRIs, or Esketamine for Depression: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis of 17 trials found that control-group participants in psilocybin depression trials showed markedly smaller improvements (SMC ≈ 0.50) on the MADRS than control participants in SSRI (SMC ≈ 1.00) or esketamine (SMC ≈ 1.12) trials. The authors conclude this disparity may indicate that psilocybin’s antidepressant efficacy is overestimated relative to SSRIs and esketamine, possibly because of functional unblinding and expectancy effects.

Published
July 30, 2025
Journal
JAMA Network Open
Authors
Hieronymus, F., López, E., Sjögren, H. W., Lundberg, J.

Clinical Trials

4 trials
RecruitingPhase I

Safety and Tolerability Trial of Psilocybin in Healthy Older Adults

This Phase I, single-group trial (n=40) will assess the safety and tolerability of oral psilocybin in healthy older adults aged 65 to 85 years. It will evaluate two dose cohorts, with the main aim of determining whether psilocybin can be administered safely in this population and how it is tolerated over time. Participants will receive two escalating oral doses of psilocybin 30 days apart: Cohort 1a will receive 10 mg followed by 25 mg, and Cohort 1b will receive 15 mg followed by 30 mg. The study will also examine pharmacokinetics, patient-reported outcomes such as psychedelic experience and wellbeing, and relationships between drug exposure, safety findings, and reported effects. Safety outcomes include adverse events assessed for up to 14 weeks.

Started
April 1, 2026
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT07516405
RecruitingPhase I

Psychedelic Healing: Adjunct Therapy Harnessing Opened Malleability (PHATHOM)

Open-label, randomised Phase I trial (n=20) assessing safety and tolerability of single 25 mg or split 12.5 mg+12.5 mg oral psilocybin in people with chronic stroke; secondary outcomes explore motor recovery.

Started
September 1, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT07053917
RecruitingPhase I

Investigating the Persisting Effects of a Single Dose of Psilocybin on Structural Plasticity in Healthy Older Adults

This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (n=40) will investigate the persisting effects of a single dose of psilocybin (1-30mg) on structural plasticity in healthy older adults.

Started
April 1, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
triple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06367738
RecruitingPhase I

Psilocybin for Depression in People With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Early Alzheimer’s Disease

Open-label single-group pilot (n=20) with weekly psychological support and two psilocybin sessions (15 mg/70 kg at week 4; 15 or 25 mg/70 kg at week 6) for depression in people with MCI or early Alzheimer’s disease.

Started
March 24, 2021
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT04123314

Explore further

Search all Psilocybin papers Search all Older Adults trials Full Psilocybin profile Full Older Adults profile