Mol Neurodegener
October 12, 2024
Cong Lin, Xiubo Du, Xiaohui Wang
6 citations
This perspective piece explores two unusual phenomena that may offer new insights into Alzheimer's disease: terminal lucidity—unexpected moments of mental clarity shortly before death in people with severe dementia—and paradoxical lucidity, similar brief episodes not linked to dying. The authors also discuss the potential of psychedelic compounds to induce such lucid states, suggesting these phenomena could challenge current assumptions about irreversible cognitive decline and point toward novel therapeutic avenues. The paper synthesizes existing observations and hypotheses rather than presenting new empirical data, arguing that investigating these transient cognitive improvements might reveal underlying neural mechanisms and treatment targets.
Mol Psychiatry
September 30, 2025
Xiubo Du, Jiantao Liu, Xiaohui Wang
2 citations
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and DMT can alter consciousness and inspire creativity. This perspective examines how these substances interact with the concept of creation, including enhancing artistic inspiration, fostering spiritual experiences, and driving therapeutic breakthroughs. By integrating neurobiological research, clinical applications, and cultural analysis, the authors argue that psychedelics may catalyze innovative thinking and awaken creative and transformative potential. As these substances gain prominence for reshaping understanding of consciousness and psychological healing, their broader integration requires careful consideration of legal, ethical, and cultural contexts to ensure evidence-based, respectful, and responsible use.
ACS pharmacology & translational science
September 12, 2025
Junjie Zhang, Xiubo Du, Xinying Li et al.
Controlled reductions in oxygen availability—whether through psychedelics, near-death experiences, meditation, holotropic breathwork, or hypoxia therapies—may trigger calcium signaling pathways that promote synaptogenesis and the formation of new neural circuits. This process could enable functional rerouting rather than restoring damaged connections, supporting cognitive resilience and behavioral compensation in conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and psychiatric disorders. Terminal lucidity in late-stage dementia may be driven by transient hypoxia, highlighting the brain's latent capacity for rapid reorganization. Integrating insights from psychedelic research, hypoxia-based therapies, and neuroplasticity studies suggests a unifying framework that leverages altered oxygen homeostasis as a novel therapeutic strategy for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.