Vorläufige Studie: Psilocybin könnte durch Chemotherapie verursachte Nervenschäden verhindern

Preliminary research suggests that psilocybin may prevent chemotherapy-related peripheral neuropathy, based on a mouse study published in Science. Mice given two doses before chemotherapy avoided pain hypersensitivity across six treatment cycles and an eight-month observation period. The treatment did not affect tumor growth or immune response, and both hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic versions produced similar protection, suggesting the effect may not depend on psilocybin's psychedelic properties. Human trials are scheduled to begin with patients who have breast, colorectal, or head and neck cancers. Participants will receive four doses, including two before and two during chemotherapy, while researchers assess pain, sleep, mental health, quality of life, and physical functioning. It remains unknown whether psilocybin can treat or reverse neuropathy that already exists, and the promising animal findings require confirmation in humans.