Examining the potential of psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT as therapeutics for traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant global health challenge, with limited effective treatments for its acute and chronic consequences. TBI is characterized by neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, impaired neuroplasticity, imbalances in neurotransmission, and cell death - factors that contribute to the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that serotonergic psychedelics psilocybin and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) may hold promise as treatments for TBI. These compounds promote neuroplasticity, exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and have shown efficacy in treating psychiatric conditions that share pathophysiological features with TBI. 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors are implicated in their effects, but psilocybin also targets neurotrophic TrkB receptors, whereas 5-MeO-DMT targets sigma-1 receptors, known to have neuroprotective properties. This review integrates current preclinical and clinical research, highlighting both the shared and distinct mechanistic pathways through which psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT may alleviate TBI-related impairments, such as cognitive and affective dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Additionally, the safety profiles, dosing paradigms, and clinical challenges of these psychedelics are critically examined. By bridging insights from psychedelic science and neurotrauma research, this review underscores the innovative potential of psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT as adjunctive treatments for TBI, paving the way for novel interventions in neurorehabilitation.

Keywords: Concussion; Microglia; Neuritogenesis; Neurotrophic; Psychedelic; Synaptic plasticity.