Researchers at Emory University demonstrate that psilocybin’s metabolite psilocin delays cellular senescence and improves survival in aged mice by upregulating SIRT1, reducing oxidative stress, and preserving telomere length, suggesting a new geroprotective strategy.

Key points

• Psilocin extends human fibroblast lifespan by up to 57% via delayed replicative senescence and increased population doublings.
• Treatment elevates SIRT1, reduces Nox4-driven oxidative stress, activates Nrf2, and preserves telomere length in vitro.
• Monthly oral psilocybin dosing in aged C57BL/6J mice boosts survival from 50% to 80% over ten months and improves fur quality.

Why it matters: This work suggests psychedelics may become a novel geroprotective intervention, offering a chemical approach to slow aging hallmarks, preserve tissue function, and treat age-related diseases.