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Woman with Alzheimer’s starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
Key Excerpts from Article on Website of New Scientist
Posted: August 6th, 2026
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2531319-woman-with-alzh...
A woman with severe Alzheimer’s disease who spent years communicating in monosyllables started initiating conversations after receiving a large dose of psilocybin. The woman, who also had urinary incontinence and was unable to get around without assistance, also regained control of her bladder and experienced improved mobility in the weeks after taking the drug. The case report, published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, adds to evidence that psychedelics can acutely alter cognition and brain function. The woman, who has not been named, is 83 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 10 years ago. With the consent of her son, the woman was given 5 grams of the Enigma strain of the highly potent magic mushroom species Psilocybe cubensis, administered orally. She initially began sweating profusely and entered a prolonged deep sleep-like state. But around 19 hours later, her son reported her initiating a conversation that included her memories and reflections, which lasted around 4 hours. Over the subsequent days and weeks, Lago and his colleagues observed her regaining urinary continence, dressing herself and spontaneously entering conversations. The researchers have stressed that her Alzheimer’s has not been reversed, but she may have some residual functional capacity that psychedelics can tap into. We know that psilocybin activates serotonin receptors in the brain, which is thought to boost its plasticity.
Note: Explore more positive stories like this on psychedelic medicine.
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