The Safety and Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Older Adults: Knowns and Unknowns.
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry January 1, 2023 C Bree Johnston, Maria Mangini, Charles Grob et al. 33 citations
Psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA show promise for treating mood disorders, PTSD, prolonged grief, and psychological distress from serious illness in older adults, and may aid dementia patients or promote personal growth in healthy seniors. Both compounds act on the 5HT2A receptor and can be safely given to healthy adults under controlled conditions, but they raise blood pressure and heart rate, posing risks for older adults with cardiovascular disease. Few older adults or those with multiple health conditions have been included in clinical trials, limiting generalizability. More research is needed on safety and efficacy in this population.