MindShift

The Big Story

The surprising conservative shift toward psychedelics. Recent weeks have seen notable changes both within the Trump administration and in traditionally red states. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to introduce psychedelic therapies in clinical settings within a year. The Department of Health and the FDA have also hired new staff linked to the psychedelic movement, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, the FDA may reconsider using MDMA to treat PTSD, a proposal previously rejected under Joe Biden.

This development follows Texas's emergence as an unexpected leader in psychedelic research. Known for its conservative drug policies, Texas is launching the largest state-funded psychedelic research initiative in the U.S. The state is investing $50 million to study Ibogaine's effects on various mental health conditions. Ibogaine comes from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, traditionally used by indigenous communities in Central Africa, and was banned in the U.S. in 1967, along with LSD and psilocybin mushrooms.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill in June, with strong support from former Governor Rick Perry. Perry learned about the potential benefits of psychedelics while helping an Afghanistan veteran suffering from traumatic brain injuries, depression, and PTSD. The project has received broad bipartisan backing.

Science & Innovation

Tripping may keep you young. Scientists have discovered that psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, can help mice live up to 30% longer than their unexposed counterparts. Additionally, these tripping rodents exhibited visibly younger traits, such as improved fur quality and less graying. Published in NPJ Aging, this new study also revealed a reduction in oxidative stress and a 51% increase in the lifespan of cultured human skin cells. These preliminary results are in line with a growing body of evidence indicating that psilocybin and other compounds may aid in treating age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
→ Emory University

A psychedelic nasal spray shows promising results in Phase II trials. Developed by the British company Beckley, BPL-003 is a derivative of mebufotenin, a compound found in several plant species and the glands of the Colorado River toad. It was specifically designed for intranasal administration. Twenty-nine days after a single dose, patients with treatment-resistant depression experienced an average reduction of 11.1 points from their baseline scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). These encouraging results led analysts at Jefferies to issue a positive report to investors on Tuesday, describing the data as "robust." Beckley is currently in the process of merging with the German pharmaceutical company atai Life Sciences.
→ Financial Times

Shedding light on ego dissolution. Psychedelic experiences are often characterized by a sensation of self-suspension, highlighting their potential therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions marked by rigid self-focus. Researchers in Italy and Switzerland could observe this phenomenon on electroencephalograms. In NeuroImage, they explain how participants, after consuming an ayahuasca-inspired formulation, exhibited heightened immediate visual responsiveness to faces but struggled with their recognition. Notably, when presented with their own faces, their brain responses mirrored those elicited by both familiar and unfamiliar faces, as if the brain no longer perceived the self as distinctly special.
→ PsyPost

Society & Policy

My magic mushrooms, my AI sitter, and I. As individuals are using ChatGPT and similar platforms as substitutes for mental health therapy, some ask AI to act as their therapist during psychedelic experiences. But, as it turns out, it is mostly a cheap alternative to human guidance, says the MIT Technology Review. Chatbots typically engage users through flattery and by validating their personal beliefs and perspectives, which is not typically associated with effective therapy, to say the least. Recent research even indicates that they may exacerbate issues such as delusions and suicidal thoughts. So, really, what could go wrong?
→ MIT Technology Review

The latest updates on the legalization front. These past few weeks, legislation has shifted in parts of the United States, Europe, and the Pacific. Here's a summary of recent key events:

• Michigan – Bill HB 4686, if approved, will legalize the personal use and cultivation of psychedelic mushrooms for individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic disorders. → CBS News

• Maine – The House voted down a bill to legalize psilocybin, despite the Senate narrowly passing it. → Fox 23 Maine

• Massachusetts – After voters rejected a proposition to legalize some psychedelic substances, a narrow new proposal seeks to decriminalize psilocybin. → Masslive

• Czech Republic – Following approval by the lower house, the legislation is expected to be approved by the upper house. → Balkan Insight

• New Zealand – Since June, a single psychiatrist in the whole country is authorized to prescribe psilocybin for depression. → New York Times

In brief

Psilocybin and ketamine share antidepressant mechanisms. Both boost brain plasticity by acting on the same pathways, helping brain cells form new connections. → Molecular Psychiatry

Awe is key for achieving lasting effects in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The authors suggest that treatment effectiveness is related to awe and being moved. → Philosophical Psychology

Group retreats to enhance psychedelic therapies among veterans. It gives them stronger, longer-lasting gains in mental health than individual sessions. → Brain and Behavior

Psychedelics and the cultural and political shifts of the 1960s. Mind-altering experiences, set against anger over Vietnam and civil-rights clashes, made radical ideas feel achievable. → The Purdue Historian

Perception of psychedelic-assisted therapies in the Middle East. A survey in Jordan showed limited familiarity and mixed perceptions, with the majority being opposed. → Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

Quantifying psilocybin and psilocin. This new method can precisely determine how much active principle there is in a given mushroom. → ACS Omega