Epigenome-wide Association Study of Psilocybin-Induced Methylome Changes in Alcohol Use Disorder
July 18, 2025 Marvin M. Urban, Eric Zillich, Nathalie M. Rieser et al. preprint
A single dose of psilocybin (25 mg) was associated with changes in DNA methylation in patients with alcohol use disorder. One methylation site in the TLE4 gene and a region in the RASGRP4 gene showed significant alterations. Co-methylation networks linked to psilocybin treatment were also associated with reduced depressive symptoms and drinking behavior, and involved genes related to neuroplasticity and immune function. Baseline methylation differences between treatment responders and non-responders appeared in genes related to synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter systems. The findings are preliminary due to the small sample size but align with prior research and suggest possible biological pathways for psilocybin's therapeutic effects.