Every year, around 69 million people suffer from concussions or other traumatic brain injuries. These injuries often happen due to sports accidents, car crashes, falls, or violence.
Sadly, there are very few treatments available, and no approved medicines that can fully help the brain recover from such injuries.
Now, a new study from the Christie Lab at the University of Victoria (UVic) in Canada is offering hope. Researchers believe that two psychedelic substances—psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT—may help the brain heal by reducing inflammation and boosting the brain’s ability to adapt and grow.
Their research was published in the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.
Psilocybin is found in certain mushrooms and is known for its mind-altering effects. 5-MeO-DMT is found in the venom of certain toads and also in some plants.
In recent years, both substances have been studied for their potential to help people with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental health conditions. Now, scientists are exploring how they might also help people who have suffered brain injuries.
The UVic research team—including Zoe Plummer, Josh Allen, Justin Brand, and Brian Christie—teamed up with experts from the University of Calgary and Vancouver Island University to study how these psychedelic compounds affect the injured brain.
They reviewed both lab studies and human trials that looked at how psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT work.
According to Josh Allen, a neuroscience researcher at UVic, a head injury sets off a series of changes in the brain. One of the first reactions is inflammation. At first, this inflammation can be helpful because it tries to repair damage.
But if it continues too long, it can cause serious problems such as trouble with memory, learning, or mental health. People may suffer from depression, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These long-term problems often happen because the brain’s ability to change and grow—called neuroplasticity—is damaged. This can trap people in unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior.
Even a mild brain injury, like a concussion, can have these lasting effects. Athletes and military personnel are especially at risk, since they may experience repeated concussions.
The review found that psychedelic compounds may reduce harmful inflammation in the brain. Even more importantly, they may help the brain grow new connections and repair itself.
Psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT appear to open a window of brain flexibility, allowing the brain to reorganize and build new pathways. This could help patients recover from injury and avoid mental health conditions linked to trauma.
Brian Christie, the head of UVic’s Concussion Lab, explained that these substances may not only heal the brain but also help protect people from developing mental illnesses after a head injury. The mind-expanding effects of psychedelics might even support emotional healing.
While this research is promising, more studies are needed. Scientists want to better understand how these substances work, and how things like age, gender, and overall health affect their safety and benefits.
If future studies confirm these findings, psychedelic therapy could become a valuable new option for treating brain injuries and easing the pressure on healthcare systems.
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