Study Finds Magic Mushrooms Significantly Improve Parkinson’s Symptoms

The psychedelic compound psilocybin — best known for putting the “magic” in magic mushrooms — is making headlines again. But this time, it’s not about trippy visuals or spiritual awakenings. It’s about science, and the potential for real, lasting relief for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, researchers administered a single dose of psilocybin to individuals with Parkinson’s—a progressive neurological disorder that affects around 10 million people globally. The results were far more than just promising. Participants experienced meaningful improvements in mood, motor control, pamäťa overall quality of life. Even more impressive? These benefits lasted for weeks after that one dose.

Understanding Parkinson’s: More Than Shaky Hands

Parkinson’s disease is commonly recognized by its most visible symptoms: tremors, muscle stiffness, and slowed movement. These result from the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a chemical messenger essential for smooth, coordinated muscle movements. As it depletes, everyday activities like walking, writing, or even smiling can become increasingly difficult.

But what many people don’t realize is that Parkinson’s also comes with a heavy emotional toll. Depression, anxiety, and apathy are extremely common and can be just as debilitating as the physical symptoms.

“Mood symptoms in Parkinson’s are actually a stronger predictor of patients’ quality of life than their motor symptoms,” said Dr. Ellen Bradley, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UC San Francisco. “And they’re also linked to a faster physical decline."

That’s why the findings of this recent study, uverejnené v Neuropsychofarmakológia, are so groundbreaking. Psilocybin didn’t just boost patients’ spirits — it also improved how their bodies functioned.

A Safe and Surprising Effect

The researchers reported no serious side effects and no worsening of symptoms. In fact, patients felt better —physically a emotionally — long after the psychedelic effects wore off.

“We are still in very early stages of this work, but this first study went well beyond what we expected,” said Bradley.

This marks a historic milestone: no psychedelic drug had ever been tested in people with a degenerative brain disorder—until now. And with such positive early results, it’s no surprise that larger trials are already being planned.

A New Era of Parkinson’s Treatment?

While there’s still no cure for Parkinson’s, treatment options have grown in recent years. Traditional therapies include medications like levodopa, which helps replenish dopamine but can become less effective over time and often brings unwanted side effects.

Newer medications, such as tavapadon, target dopamine receptors in more specific ways, offering symptom control with potentially fewer downsides. Meanwhile, produodopa — a continuous dopamine infusion therapy recently approved by the FDA — offers steady relief without the rollercoaster of on/off medication cycles.

And while drugs are critical, so are alternative therapies. Movement-based approaches like tandem cycling and even table tennis have shown benefits. In New York, for instance, some patients find surprising relief on the pingpong table.

“I just can’t get enough of it,” NYU economics professor and Parkinson’s patient Bill Easterly told The New York Post. “When I play pingpong, I just feel my brain come alive.”

These physical activities help the brain engage in new ways — something scientists now believe psychedelics may also facilitate.

Psilocybin: Rewiring the Brain?

Psilocybin is believed to work by stimulating serotonin receptors in the brain, especially the 5-HT2A receptor. This not only creates the classic psychedelic experience but also promotes neuroplasticita — the brain’s ability to rewire itself and form new connections.

This is the same mechanism researchers think may underlie the positive changes in Parkinson’s patients. Dr. Joshua Woolley, senior author of the study and director of UCSF’s Translational Psychedelic Research Program (TrPR), explained it this way:

“The vast majority of brain diseases still lack interventions that change the course of illness,” povedal. “We can often treat the symptoms, but we don’t alter the trajectory or prevent decline. Now, that’s beginning to change. These results raise the exciting possibility that psilocybin may help the brain repair itself.”

Čo ďalej?

Researchers at UCSF’s TrPR are already preparing for larger and more robust clinical trials to better understand how psilocybin affects brain function in Parkinson’s patients. Their goal is to confirm whether this compound could become a powerful, well-tolerated tool in the long-term management of the disease.

And while there’s still much to learn, this study marks an exciting turning point — suggesting that a single psychedelic experience might do what decades of treatments have struggled to achieve: bring lasting and effective relief to people facing one of the most challenging neurological disorders.