Procesoptimalisatie
E-learning
Excel
Ggz
Jeugdzorg
Power BI
Procesoptimalisatie
E-learning
Excel
Ggz
Jeugdzorg
Power BI

Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity

Enhancement of neuroplasticity and neuronal resilience refers to the integrated process by which the nervous system strengthens its structural, molecular, and functional capacity to adapt and recover. This includes increases in dendritic complexity, dendritic spines, and synaptic density, alongside lowered action potential thresholds, indicating improved synaptic function. It also involves the stimulation of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, coupled with enhanced survival of new neurons. Molecularly, these processes are supported by the activation of gene expression and intracellular signaling pathways related to plasticity, as well as increased production of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF. Together, these adaptations confer neuroprotection against hypoxic or neurotoxic stress and ischemic damage, resulting in functional improvements in learning, memory, fear extinction, and motor skills, ultimately enhancing the brain’s overall adaptive and resilient capacity.

Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity

Psychedelics for Brain Injury


Neuroplasticity involves processes such as dendritic growth, synapse formation, plasticity-related gene expression, neuroprotective mechanisms, and neurogenesis. These processes are associated with gene expression that supports brain plasticity and underlie learning, memory, and recovery after brain injury. Additionally, biomarkers such as BDNF serve as indicators and promoters of these plasticity-related processes.





Psychedelics for Brain Injury

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)


Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an aggressive, terminal neurodegenerative disease that causes death of motor neurons and has an average survival time of 3-4 years. ALS is the most common motor neuron degenerative disease and is increasing in prevalence. There is a pressing need for more effective ALS treatments as available pharmacotherapies do not reverse disease progression or provide substantial clinical benefit. Furthermore, despite psychological distress being highly prevalent in ALS patients, psychological treatments remain understudied. Psychedelics (i.e., serotonergic psychedelics and related compounds like ketamine) have seen a resurgence of research into therapeutic applications for treating a multitude of neuropsychiatric conditions, including psychiatric and existential distress in life-threatening illnesses.  We conducted a narrative review to examine the potential of psychedelic assisted-psychotherapy (PAP) to alleviate psychiatric and psychospiritual distress in ALS. We also discussed the safety of using psychedelics in this population and proposed putative neurobiological mechanisms that may therapeutically intervene on ALS neuropathology.  PAP has the potential to treat psychological dimensions and may also intervene on neuropathological dimensions of ALS. Robust improvements in psychiatric and psychospiritual distress from PAP in other populations provide a strong rationale for utilizing this therapy to treat ALS-related psychiatric and existential distress. Furthermore, relevant neuroprotective properties of psychedelics warrant future preclinical trials to investigate this area in ALS models. PAP has the potential to serve as an effective treatment in ALS. Given the lack of effective treatment options, researchers should rigorously explore this therapy for ALS in future trials.





Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

European Medicines Agency (EMA)

The EMA describes psychedelic-assisted therapy as promising for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and addiction. Early clinical studies provide encouraging results, and international developments, such as the FDA designation of psilocybin as a breakthrough therapy, highlight this potential. The organization actively collaborates with researchers and considers the investigation of psychedelics to be relevant and important in light of current mental health challenges.

EMA

Therapeutic use

The EMA clearly sees potential in psychedelics as a therapy for severe mental disorders with significant unmet medical needs, such as treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. New clinical studies show encouraging results, leading the EMA to suggest that psychedelics deserve a “second chance.” The organization emphasizes that there is substantial interest and progress in both science and therapy, partly driven by the mental health crisis. The EMA indicates that the European regulatory framework provides appropriate tools and support for developers, is open to early dialogue and collaboration, and underscores that joint efforts between researchers, industry, and patients enable innovation.

EMA

Workshop psychedelica

This multi-stakeholder workshop brings together patients, healthcare providers, researchers, regulators, and companies to discuss how psychedelics can be developed and used therapeutically to address unmet needs in mental healthcare. The workshop aims to gain insight into how experts view the therapeutic potential, clarify what is required for safe and effective use, provide information on regulatory challenges in the development and evaluation of these substances, and identify areas where additional guidance is needed.
EMA

Safety of Psychedelics 

According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), alcohol scores significantly higher than psilocybin (truffles and/or mushrooms) in all categories. Alcohol has an acute toxicity of 1.9 compared to 0.9 for truffles, and chronic toxicity is 2.5 for alcohol, while psilocybin scores extremely low at 0.1. Total toxicity is 2.2 for alcohol, well above the 0.5 for mushrooms. There is also a substantial difference in addiction potential: alcohol scores 2.1, whereas psilocybin scores 0.0. In short, in this dataset, alcohol is assessed as considerably more harmful and addictive than psilocybin, which has a comparatively low risk profile. This research was conducted by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and has been carried out internationally three times. The findings of these studies are consistent.

RIVM

UMC Groningen

Psychiatrists, psychologists, and neuroscientists are calling for a single national center to oversee the safe and responsible implementation of psychedelic therapy. They consider this treatment promising for thousands of patients who do not benefit from existing therapies, but emphasize that it is a profound intervention and should therefore only be administered by well-trained, accredited therapists. The center would coordinate research, train therapists, and ensure quality standards. The scientists involved warn that improper implementation could harm vulnerable patients. They are therefore urging the government to allocate funding for a network and research program to responsibly integrate these new treatments into healthcare.

UMC Groningen


ZonMW


ZonMw aims to form a national team of experts focused on psychedelic therapies for people who do not respond to conventional treatments. Organizations with experience in mental healthcare and psychedelics are eligible to participate. Together, they will develop a plan to ultimately achieve official approval and reimbursement for a psychedelic compound combined with psychotherapy. To this end, ZonMw is organizing two workshop days in October to establish the consortium and develop the plan. A budget of €750,000 is available to prepare this initiative. Only organizations with genuine expertise may participate, and potential lead applicants are required to attend both workshop days.



ZonMW

UMC Utrecht

University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht is investigating whether psilocybin, the active compound in truffles, can help people with depression who do not respond well to existing treatments. Patients undergo a psychedelic session under strict supervision in a safe, calm environment, followed by therapy sessions to process the experience. Previous international research has shown promising results, but nothing has been proven yet, the researchers emphasize. The treatment is intensive, not without risks, and currently only available within a scientific research setting. If the results hold, psilocybin could potentially become a new treatment option for patients who are currently struggling within mental healthcare.

UMC Utrecht
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