Psilocybin, the active ingredient in ‘shrooms’, could alleviate depression – and the benefits may be even greater amongst the elderly.
A recent meta-analysis of previous studies published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that the drug worked better for older people – among patients taking psilocybin for depression, the benefits were more pronounced for every year older a patient was. Though a further review of the data is still pending. Professor Guy Goodwin, emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, says that while there is not sufficient evidence to suggest psilocybin therapy is more useful for older people in particular, it could be especially suitable for them for other reasons. “It’s certainly a safe drug and therefore it might be a good idea for the elderly,” he says. “[It] doesn’t impair blood pressure, doesn’t produce falls, and doesn’t require continuing treatment with a sedative drug.”
