This pre-print review (2023, s=68) of pre-clinical (mice/rats) studies examines the impact of psychedelic compounds on adult neurogenesis, the process of new neuron formation in the adult brain. The researchers categorize psychedelics into five main groups: CB1 agonists, NMDA antagonists, harmala alkaloids, tryptamines, and entactogens, and explore their outcomes on neurogenesis. The study concludes by asserting that psychedelics could potentially influence the generation of new neurons and other brain-related processes.
Abstract of Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis
“In the mammalian brain, new neurons continue to be generated throughout life in a process known as adult neurogenesis. The role of adult-generated neurons has been broadly studied across laboratories, and mounting evidence suggests a strong link to the HPA axis and concomitant malfunction in patients diagnosed with mood disorders. Psychedelic compounds, such as phenethylamines, tryptamines, cannabinoids, and a variety of ever-growing chemical categories, emerge as therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders, while numerous reports link their effects to increased adult neurogenesis. In this systematic review, we examine studies assessing neurogenesis after psychedelics interventions and aim to provide a comprehensive picture of how this vast category of compounds regulates the generation of new neurons. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a literature search on PubMed and Science Direct databases considering all articles published until January 31, 2022. We selected studies containing both the words “neurogenesis” and “psychedelics”, using either in vivo or in vitro models, and employing classical or atypical psychedelics at all ontogenetic windows. Of a total of 205 articles, 68 met all the necessary conditions for further review. Our findings were divided into five main categories of psychedelics: CB1 agonists, NMDA antagonists, harmala alkaloids, tryptamines, and entactogens. We then described the outcomes of neurogenesis assessments and investigated related results on the effects of psychedelics on brain plasticity and behavior within our sample. In summary, this review presents an extensive study into how different psychedelics may affect the birth of new neurons and other brain-related processes. Such knowledge may be valuable for future research on novel therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.”
Authors: Rafael Vitor Lima da Cruz, Richardson N. Leão & Thiago C. Moulin
Summary of Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis
According to the Global Burden Diseases study, Major Depressive disorder (MDD) affects 264 million people worldwide, significantly affecting daily activities, quality of life, cognitive abilities, and work productivity. MDD is the third most prevalent cause of disability. Most pharmacological interventions aiming to treat mood disorders such as MDD are benzodiazepines or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), but 50 to 60% of patients do not respond to these drugs, which is then characterized as treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
The pathophysiology of depression is not yet fully understood, but the monoamine hypothesis predicts that this disorder arises from a deficiency or imbalance of monoamine neurotransmitters. The neurogenic hypothesis of depression suggests that depression correlates with a decrease in the formation of new neurons in the adult brain.
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Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis: A systematic review of pre-clinical studies
https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.19.549676
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Cite this paper (APA)
Lima da Cruz, R. V., Leao, R. N., & Moulin, T. C. (2023). Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis: A systematic review of pre-clinical studies. bioRxiv, 2023-07.