Older individuals who have used psychedelics tend to exhibit better cognitive functioning and fewer depressive symptoms compared to those who have not, according to new research published in Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine. However, psychedelic usage was not linked to improvements in episodic memory.
Psychedelics are substances that profoundly alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes, often inducing hallucinogenic, euphoric, or introspective experiences. Popular psychedelics include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms), and ecstasy (MDMA or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Historically, some psychedelics have been used in cultural and religious rituals to induce spiritual experiences and enhance self-awareness.
In modern times, psychedelics are considered illicit substances in most jurisdictions. However, studies in recent decades indicated that they can also have beneficial therapeutic effects on various mental disorders. This led to their partial decriminalization in many countries and the development of psychedelic therapy.
Psychedelic therapy involves the supervised use of these substances in a controlled setting to promote emotional and psychological healing. During these sessions, a therapist guides the individual through their experience, helping them to explore and integrate their thoughts and feelings. Research into the effectiveness of psychedelic therapy has shown promise in treating depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety, especially when traditional treatments have failed.
The study, conducted by Kaeleigh Fearn and Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya, addresses cognitive decline, a significant health concern in older adults. The researchers hypothesized that psychedelic use could improve cognitive functions and reduce depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. To test this hypothesis, they analyzed data from the Midlife in the United States study.
The Midlife in the United States study is a national longitudinal research project that examines the physical, mental, and social health of Americans as they age. The data analyzed in this study included 2,503 English-speaking participants from 48 U.S. states, with an average age of 64 years; 55% of the participants were women.
Participants completed phone surveys and mailed self-administered questionnaires. They reported their use of marijuana, LSD, or other hallucinogens (such as PCP, peyote, ecstasy (MDMA), mescaline, and Prozac) in the past 12 months. They also completed assessments of executive functioning, episodic memory (using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone), and depressive symptoms lasting two or more weeks in the past year (using the 7-item DEPCON scale).
The results showed higher rates of psychedelic use among younger participants, women, individuals who were separated, divorced, or never married, the unemployed, tobacco and alcohol users, and those with more chronic conditions.
Despite these demographic differences, psychedelic users generally had better cognitive functioning and fewer depressive symptoms, even after accounting for various factors. However, psychedelic use was not associated with episodic memory improvements.
“The current findings revealed that psychedelic use was associated with improved cognitive function, assessed by executive function, partially supporting our hypothesis; however, the same association was not evident with episodic memory. Further, psychedelic use was associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms. Although our participants were limited, the results corroborated earlier findings in a lesser-explored area of research,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the links between psychedelic use, cognitive functioning and mental health in middle-aged and older adults. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, the study design does not allow any cause-and-effect inferences to be drawn from the data. Additionally, data about psychedelic use came exclusively from self-reports leaving room for reporting bias to affect the results.
The paper, “Is Use of Psychedelic Drugs a Risk or Protective Factor for Late-Life Cognitive Decline?”, was authored by Kaeleigh Fearn and Kallol Kumar Bhattacharyya.