Scientists in Hungary have discovered that a natural compound called DMT may help protect the brain after a stroke.
DMT, short for dimethyltryptamine, is best known as a powerful psychedelic substance that can cause intense changes in perception, thoughts, and emotions. It is found naturally in many plants and animals, and small amounts are also produced in the human body.
While DMT has long been linked to spiritual rituals and psychedelic experiences, researchers are now exploring whether it could also have important medical uses.
The new study was carried out by researchers from the HUN-REN Biological Research Centre Institute of Biophysics and Semmelweis University in Hungary. Their findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
The scientists discovered that DMT helped reduce brain damage and inflammation in animals after a stroke. The results suggest that this unusual compound could one day become a new treatment for stroke patients.
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly blocked or interrupted. Brain cells need a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood.
Without that supply, brain cells begin to die within minutes. This damage can lead to serious problems with movement, speech, memory, thinking, and daily activities. Some people recover well after a stroke, but many are left with long-term disabilities.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability around the world. Doctors currently have only a few treatment options, and these treatments must often be given very quickly after symptoms begin. Because of this, scientists have been searching for new ways to protect brain cells and improve recovery after a stroke.
In the new study, researchers tested DMT in rats that had experienced strokes. The animals that received DMT had much smaller areas of dead brain tissue, known as infarcts, compared with untreated animals. They also had less swelling in the brain, called edema, which is another serious problem after stroke.
The scientists also carried out laboratory experiments using brain-related cells. These tests showed that DMT helped repair the blood-brain barrier. This barrier acts like a protective wall around the brain.
It controls which substances can enter the brain from the bloodstream and helps block harmful toxins, infections, and inflammation. During a stroke, this barrier can become damaged, allowing harmful substances to enter the brain and worsen injury.
Another important finding involved astrocytes, which are special support cells in the brain. Astrocytes help protect neurons, supply nutrients, and maintain healthy brain function. The study found that DMT improved the activity of these important cells, helping them better support damaged brain tissue.
The researchers also discovered that DMT reduced inflammation in the brain. Inflammation is part of the body’s natural defense system, but after a stroke it can become excessive and cause additional damage.
The study showed that DMT reduced the release of inflammatory molecules called cytokines. These molecules are produced by both brain cells and immune cells during injury and can increase brain damage if they become overactive.
DMT also calmed overactive immune cells in the brain called microglia. Microglia normally help defend the brain and remove damaged tissue, but after a stroke they can sometimes become too active and increase inflammation. By calming these cells, DMT may help create a healthier environment for brain healing.
The scientists found that these protective effects were linked to special proteins in the brain known as Sigma-1 receptors. These receptors are involved in many important brain functions, including stress responses, inflammation, and cell survival.
Previous studies have suggested that Sigma-1 receptors may help protect brain cells under stressful conditions, and DMT appears to strongly interact with them.
Dr. Judit Vigh, one of the lead researchers, explained that DMT seems to protect the brain in two major ways. First, it helps repair and strengthen the blood-brain barrier. Second, it reduces harmful inflammation in the brain. Together, these effects could make DMT a powerful treatment option for stroke recovery.
One reason researchers are especially interested in DMT is that small doses may provide medical benefits without causing strong or long-lasting psychedelic effects. This could make it more practical and safer for use in hospitals and medical care.
Scientists around the world have recently become more interested in studying psychedelic compounds for medical purposes. Research has explored whether substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and DMT may help conditions including depression, anxiety, addiction, chronic pain, and PTSD.
However, experts stress that these substances can still carry risks and should only be used in carefully controlled medical settings.
Although the results of the new stroke study are exciting, researchers say much more work is needed before DMT could become a standard treatment for patients.
The current findings are mainly based on animal and laboratory studies. Clinical trials are now underway to test whether DMT can safely help human stroke patients recover brain function.
The scientists are also studying the long-term effects of DMT treatment to make sure it does not cause unexpected health problems. Larger studies will be needed to confirm whether the benefits seen in animals also happen in people.
Still, the discovery highlights how substances found in nature may hold important clues for future medicine.
If future research confirms the early findings, DMT could one day offer new hope for stroke patients by helping protect the brain, reduce damage, and improve recovery after one of the world’s most serious medical emergencies.
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