'Magic mushrooms' show promise for improving motor function and mood in Parkinson's patients

'Magic mushrooms' show promise for improving motor function and mood in Parkinson's patients

Psilocybin, a natural compound found in certain mushrooms, has shown promise in treating depression and anxiety. UC San Francisco researchers wanted to know if it could be used to help Parkinson's patients who often experience debilitating mood dysfunction in addition to their motor symptoms and don't respond well to antidepressants or other medications.

How ‘Magic Mushrooms’ Could Help Parkinson’s Disease Patients

A first-of-its-kind study tested the safety of psilocybin on patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease and found that patients experienced clinically significant improvements in mood, cognition, and motor function that lasted for weeks after the drug was out of their systems.