Psilocybin Effects on Healthy Aging Biomarkers and Purpose in Life
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Psilocybin (Usona Institute).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Aging, Longevity, Biomarkers of Aging. Basic parameters: 60 years — 80 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
An Examination of Psilocybin Effects on Biomarkers of Longevity, Healthy Aging, and Purpose in Life
Overview
The LONG-LIFE study is a randomized Phase I, dose-ranging trial designed to evaluate whether psilocybin impacts aging-related biomarkers, cognitive function, and purpose/meaning in life in medically stable older adults. Up to 50 participants will be enrolled aged 60-80 who will be randomized with equal allocation to one of four intervention groups: (1) receipt of one 25 mg dose of psilocybin; (2) receipt of two 25 mg doses of psilocybin separated by four weeks; (3) receipt of three 25 mg doses, with each dose separated by four weeks; or (4) wait-list comparator condition that does not receive psilocybin. Biomarkers of aging, cognitive performance, and behavioral measures will be assessed at baseline and longitudinally over a 12-month follow-up period. The primary endpoint occurs at the Week 16 visit. Participants randomized to the wait-list condition will be offered a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin following conclusion of the 12-month follow-up period. Findings from this Phase I study will inform dose selection for a Phase II study should results indicate a potential impact of psilocybin on relevant study endpoints.
Detailed description
Aging is accompanied by progressive changes across multiple physiological systems that contribute to functional decline and increased risk for age-related disease. Biomarkers of biological aging, including DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks, have emerged as tools for assessing age-related biological processes and predicting future health outcomes.
Recent preclinical studies have suggested that psilocybin and its active metabolite, psilocin, may influence several pathways implicated in aging, including cellular senescence, oxidative stress, neuroplasticity, and epigenetic regulation. In addition to biological effects, observational studies have demonstrated associations between psychosocial factors, including purpose in life and social connectedness, and reduced morbidity and mortality in older adults. Previous clinical studies have shown that psilocybin may produce changes in psychological well-being, meaning, and related constructs.
The LONG-LIFE Study is designed to evaluate multiple domains relevant to healthy aging, including, but not limited to, epigenetic and biological clock measures, cognitive performance, psychosocial well-being, and ecological momentary assessments of daily experience.
Interventions
- Drug Psilocybin (Usona Institute)
25mg capsule of psilocybin
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Epigenetic/Biological Clock Profiling from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
- Change in Purpose in Life (PIL) from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
Secondary outcome measures (8)
- Change in Epigenetic/Biological Clock Profiling from Baseline to Week 52 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 52]
- Change in Telomere Length from Baseline to Week 52 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 52]
- Change in Purpose in Life (PIL) from Baseline to Week 52 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 52]
- Change in Satisfaction with Life from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
- Change in Wellbeing from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
- Change in Optimism from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
- Change in Perceived Control/Mastery from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
- Change in Loneliness from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16 [Time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4 and Week 16]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- English speaking and able to provide informed consent and complete study procedures
- Medically healthy, as determined by the screening physician, with no significant medical conditions that would interfere with participation or affect the safety of the subject.
Exclusion criteria
- History or presence of any psychiatric or medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, could pose a safety risk, interfere with participation, or confound study results.
- Abnormal ECG at screening that may increase risk during participation (e.g., prolonged QTc, arrhythmias, or other clinically significant findings as determined by the study physician).
- Unwilling or unable to discontinue medications that may interfere with study participation, as determined by the investigator.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- Vail Health Behavioral Health — Edwards
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07719088 · IND182485