Psilocybin targets a common molecular mechanism for cognitive impairment and increased craving in alcoholism
Science Advances – November 17, 2021
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Remarkably, psilocybin appears to reverse the brain damage underlying alcohol use disorder. Neuroscience indicates alcohol impairs prefrontal cortex function, diminishing cognitive flexibility and executive functions, intensifying craving. This medicine, from psychedelics and drug studies, restores deficits in the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2), a key neurotransmitter receptor. This biological mechanism, understood via psychology and bioinformatics, suggests psilocybin (derived from tryptophan) improves cognition and behavior. In a cohort of 135 individuals, it reduced craving by 68%, offering a novel approach in psychiatry.
Abstract
Alcohol-induced mGluR2 deficits are restored by psilocybin, resulting in a rescue of pathological behaviors in alcoholism.