Can Magic Mushrooms Really Slow Down Aging?

Using psychedelics to treat mental illness is nothing new, but the potential health-boosting perks of magic mushrooms (a type of fungi that contains psilocybin) go beyond that. New research published in npj Aging suggests psilocybin might have another remarkable ability: to slow down cellular aging.

In the 2025 study, 19-month-old female mice (which are roughly equivalent to humans in their mid-sixties) were administered doses of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, over a period of 10 months. Survival rates and overall appearance of the mice were regularly monitored, with the first monthly dose given at 5 mg/kg, followed by 15 mg/kg each subsequent month.

The results were noteworthy: Mice given psilocybin exhibited an 80% survival rate compared to 50% in control mice. Psilocybin-treated mice also appeared visibly younger, with shinier coats and less graying.

“Researchers attribute these anti-aging effects to the potential role of psilocybin and its active compound psilocin in preserving the protective caps on the ends of DNA and promoting oxidative stress reduction (an imbalance in free radicals and antioxidants that can lead to cell damage),” says Ryan SultanMD, a double-board certified psychiatrist and medical director at Integrative Psych of Manhattan.

But it’s important to acknowledge the study’s limitations. The results observed in female mice don’t directly translate to humans, notes Sultan. Also, many questions remain, such as the optimal dosage and frequency needed to achieve longevity benefits, and how psilocybin’s effects might vary based on factors like sex, age, and population.

Despite promising findings, psilocybin research in the U.S. remains limited by its Schedule I classification —a designation that implies no accepted medical use and high abuse potential, says Mark KovacsPhD, a longevity and human performance specialist and founder of the Kovacs Institute. But many experts argue this status reflects outdated science and the legacy of racially discriminatory drug laws that have disproportionately targeted Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities.

These barriers continue to reinforce stigma and restrict access to funding and research. Still, a growing body of evidence points to potential benefits. A 2021 review noted psilocybin’s low physiological toxicity, low risk of addiction, and minimal long-term side effects — underscoring the need for more open and rigorous investigation into its possible role in healthy aging.

So, is psilocybin the new fountain of youth? Potentially… but there’s still a plethora of contraindications. Here’s what to know.

How does psilocybin influence the cellular aging process?

Aging at the cellular level explains why we age physically. “Cells have a limit as to the number of times they can divide, known as the Hayflick limitand cells will stop dividing once they’ve reached this limit or if they are under undue stress from oxidative stress, radiation, or toxins,” Sultan says. “An aging cell is a cell that has lost some of its functioning or replication abilities.”

Research on psilocybin and its direct impact on cellular aging is still in the early stages, but emerging evidence suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy may positively influence several mechanisms associated with biological aging, particularly through its effects on inflammation, stress biology, and brain health.

At the cellular level, aging is largely driven by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and the decline of mitochondrial function, but Kovacs says psilocybin might help modulate these drivers through the following mechanisms:

• Reduced stress hormone activity (cortisol), which is known to accelerate telomere shortening and cellular senescence — the process of cellular aging, where cells stop dividing but don’t die. Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that prevent DNA damage and ensure proper replication during cell division, says board-certified psychiatrist Gil LichtheinMD. “They are composed of repetitive DNA sequences and proteins, and their length is a factor in cellular aging, with shortening potentially leading to cell senescence,” he explains. So, psilocin does not work by extending telomeres, but rather by slowing down their natural shortening process.
• Enhanced neuroplasticity (the ability of neural networks to change through growth and reorganization) and neurogenesis (the process by which new neurons are formed), especially in brain regions like the hippocampus, which are highly susceptible to age-related decline.
• Anti-inflammatory effects that could indirectly promote healthier cellular environments and reduce proinflammatory cytokines (small proteins essential for controlling the growth and activity of immune and blood cells).

Additionally, psilocybin has shown potential in promoting healthy cognitive aging. “By enhancing brain network connectivity and reducing the rigidity of thought patterns, psilocybin may offer neuroprotective benefits, especially in populations at risk for depression, isolation, or dementia,” notes Kovacs. After all, aging isn’t just about cells — it’s about how those cells function in a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological life.

“Psilocybin seems to impact that broader framework of aging, offering improvements in purpose, meaning, and emotional resilience, which are all linked to longer health spans,” Kovacs says.

What are the risks of psilocybin?

Lichtshein says psilocybin is generally well-tolerated when used in controlled settings, although temporary side effects like anxiety, mild nausea, and fatigue may happen. Still, research indicates that these symptoms usually disappear within 48 hours.

Given that psilocybin is a Schedule I substance, those diagnosed with or predisposed to bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or severe anxiety disorders should exercise extra caution and only use psilocybin under the clinical supervision of a trained mental health professional, since the substance can trigger psychosis (a set of symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions that occur when a person is disconnected from reality), Sultan adds.

What this psilocybin research could mean for the future of human longevity

The findings of this study are promising, but the leap from laboratory mice to human application requires extensive additional research before we can make firm conclusions about psilocybin’s effect on cellular aging. “I don’t know if we can conclude that psilocybin would reverse aging per se, but there is data from psychiatric literature that suggests it has neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects (i.e. the factors that support the growth and survival of neurons),” Lichtshein says.

Kovacs agrees. “Psilocybin is not a silver bullet for aging, but it may be a powerful tool in the broader toolkit of healthy longevity, especially through its ability to recalibrate stress, emotional burden, and cognitive rigidity.”