A tiny Nasdaq biotech is teaming up with South African neuroscientists to test whether a psychedelic can actually shift the biology of aging.
A Nasdaq micro-cap is taking on a question that sounds almost unreal: Can a psychedelic like psilocybin actually influence how our cells age?
Psyence BioMed has announced what it calls the first psilocybin longevity research program from a publicly listed company. The goal is to study whether psilocybin can shift measurable markers linked to inflammation, mitochondrial function, and cellular stress in collaboration with neuroscientists in South Africa.
This comes right after a wave of early studies showing that psilocybin’s active metabolite, psilocin, helped older mice live longer and made human skin and lung cells survive up to 50 percent longer in lab dishes. For many scientists, that result alone was a “wait, what?” moment.
Key Takeaways
- Psilocybin longevity research is now an official, structured scientific field.
- Early studies found longer-living cells and better survival in aged mice after psilocin exposure.
- Psyence’s new project will track oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial energy, and healthspan behavior.
- Psilocybin may affect aging through reduced inflammation, stronger cellular repair, and improved brain plasticity.
- There is no human evidence yet. Psilocybin is not an anti-aging therapy today.
Why scientists suddenly care about psilocybin and aging
🧪 Psyence BioMed isn’t selling mushroom gummies. It’s a biotech already running clinical trials for psilocybin therapy. So this move into longevity biology feels like the beginning of a new chapter, not a marketing stunt.
The company is working with South African researchers led by Dr Tanya Calvey to create a fast, rigorous preclinical program. The big question they’re chasing feels almost futuristic:
If a single psychedelic session can rewire brain networks, could psilocybin also support the cellular machinery that influences aging?
To test this, the research team will observe how psilocybin affects:
- Inflammation (a major driver of aging)
- Cellular stress responses
- Mitochondrial efficiency
- Behavioral signs of healthspan like movement, energy and cognitive performance
This work isn’t about trips. It’s about whether psilocybin leaves biological fingerprints that matter for aging.
What the early science actually showed
🧫 One of the most surprising pieces of evidence came from a 2025 study in npj Aging. When researchers treated human skin and lung cells with psilocin, those cells lived about 50 percent longer, had less DNA damage, and showed healthier telomeres.
In older mice, occasional low doses of psilocybin helped the animals live longer than untreated peers, while maintaining better physical condition. The studies are still small, but the pattern is clear: psilocybin seems to hit pathways directly tied to cellular resilience.
No, this doesn’t mean mushrooms are a longevity shortcut. But it means something real and biologically meaningful is happening.
The biological clues scientists find most exciting
Researchers now have several theories about how psilocybin might interact with aging biology. They’re early, but optimistic.
1. Reducing oxidative stress
Aging cells suffer from constant oxidative damage. Psilocin has been shown to lower oxidative stress, preserve telomeres, and increase SIRT1, a protein linked to DNA repair and metabolic health. Healthier cells tend to survive longer.
2. Lowering chronic inflammation
🧠 Psilocybin appears to calm overactive brain immune cells and reduce inflammatory signals. Because persistent inflammation accelerates aging, this pathway might be one of the most important.
3. Boosting neuroplasticity
Psilocybin is known for increasing neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt. Aging reduces this flexibility. A temporary boost could help older brains maintain cognitive resilience.
4. Stress, mood and telomeres
Since chronic stress shortens telomeres, and psilocybin therapy often reduces stress dramatically, scientists suspect an indirect mind-to-cell pathway might also support aging biology. It’s a hypothesis, but an exciting one.
Across all these mechanisms, the big feeling in the research community is curiosity with a touch of optimism:
there’s enough signal here to take this seriously.
What this means for normal people right now
💡 Here’s the honest, grounded summary:
- Psilocybin is not a proven anti-aging therapy.
- No human has had their biological age reversed by psilocybin in a controlled study.
- The current evidence is preclinical (cells + mice).
- Legal and medical restrictions remain strict.
But something important is happening here. Longevity science has spent years exploring the same categories: fasting, rapamycin, NAD, cold exposure. Psilocybin brings a completely new biological angle, and researchers are treating it seriously.
If upcoming studies confirm changes in inflammation, mitochondrial health or telomere biology, small human trials could appear in the next few years. That would be a major moment for the longevity field.
For now, think of this as the start of a scientific journey rather than a finished solution.
How to follow the field without getting misled
A simple framework to stay clear and excited, not confused:
- Look for peer-reviewed data, not influencer claims.
- Watch for strong biomarkers: telomeres, inflammation, mitochondrial function, epigenetic clocks.
- Pay attention to studies in older adults, not just young volunteers.
- Never treat psilocybin as a DIY longevity hack. The science isn’t there yet.
Sources
- Kato K et al. Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice. npj Aging (2025).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40628762/ - Baylor College of Medicine. Can psychedelic mushrooms turn back the clock?
https://www.bcm.edu/news/can-psychedelic-mushrooms-turn-back-the-clock
