What are telomeres?
Telomeres are the protective caps at the end of our chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, they become slightly shorter, and eventually this protective layer wears down. Shorter telomeres are associated with aging and chronic diseases. Therefore, many scientists are looking for ways to keep these ‘end caps’ as long as possible.
Now it turns out that psilocybin is a substance that can protect and even prolong telomeres. In this blog, we tell you about the latest findings on how mushrooms and magic truffles can contribute to healthy aging.
The psilocybin–telomerase hypothesis
In 2020, an article was published in which the psilocybin–telomere hypothesis was launched. The idea: psilocybin could protect or even increase the length of telomeres, allowing cells to remain healthy for longer. This hypothesis was logical. People with better mental health often have longer telomeres. Although plausible, there was still no scientific evidence to support this theory.
New research in 2025
A team of researchers from Emory University and Baylor College of Medicine published a groundbreaking study in July 2025. They treated human fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) with psilocybin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, and found that the lifespan of these cells increased by 29 % at a dose of 10 µM. At a higher dose of 100 µM, the increase was even 51 % to 57. % The cells remained longer in part and showed fewer signs of aging, such as shortening of the telomeres and increased oxidative stress.
Interestingly, the length of the telomeres was preserved in psilocybin-treated cells. Where control cells saw their telomeres shrink, the telomeres in the treated cells remained the same length. This is an initial indication that psilocybin can slow the wear and tear of these protective caps.
Research with mice
In addition to the cell studies, the scientists investigated the effects of psilocybin on the entire organism. They first gave old mice (similar to 60–65 years in humans) a low dose (5 mg/kg) and then a higher dose (15 mg/kg) monthly for ten months. At the end of the experiment, 24 of the 30 treated mice survived, compared to only 14 of the 28 in the control group. It was also noticed that the mice had better fur and less gray hair.
More SIRT1 enzymes
In addition to the extended lifespan and the reduction of gray hair, the researchers found higher levels of SIRT1, an enzyme that helps repair cellular damage and is known for its role in regulating aging. The improvements in lifespan were therefore accompanied by a more favorable biochemical profile.
SIRT1 contributes to cellular youthfulness by activating TERT, the enzyme that produces telomerase and can thus extend or stabilize telomeres, and by collaborating with Shelterin complexes as TRF2 to maintain the telomere structure while simultaneously reducing oxidative damage.
In shortSIRT1 activates more TERT, which in turn leads to more telomerase. Telomerase is an enzyme complex that can maintain or extend telomere length. It adds specific DNA repeats (TTAGGG in humans) to the ends of chromosomes, thereby slowing down or reversing the shortening of telomeres during cell division. Research in mice indicates that SIRT1 is indirectly responsible for DNA rejuvenation.
Functions of SIRT1
SIRT1 enzymes have even more functions that are related to protecting DNA. For those interested, we have a table below with multiple functions of SIRT1:
| Area of responsibility | Effect of SIRT1 | Mechanism / Comments |
|---|---|---|
| DNA recovery | Promotes DNA repair | Activates proteins such as Ku70 and WRN that are involved in double-stranded DNA repair |
| Telomere maintenance | Supports telomere stability and extension | Activates the protein TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase); protects telomere structure |
| Aging & lifespan | Slows cell aging | Regulates gene expression via deacetylase; activated by calorie restriction |
| Metabolism & energy | Increases fat burning and insulin sensitivity | Activates PGC-1α (for mitochondria) and inhibits PPAR-γ (fat storage) |
| Brain function & neuroprotection | Increases BDNF, reduces neuro-inflammation | Protects neurons by inhibiting oxidative stress; relevant in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease |
| Stress response & survival | Protects cells against oxidative and metabolic stress | Deacetylates p53, FOXO3a and other stress-related proteins |
| Epigenetics | Changes gene expression via histone deacetylation | Changes in chromatin structure → genes for repair and survival become more active |
| Anti-inflammatory effect | Reduces chronic inflammation | Suppressed NF-κB, a key regulator of inflammatory genes |
| Therapeutic target | Gateway for anti-aging and metabolic disease control | Activated by resveratrol, NAD⁺ boosters (such as NMN and NR), fisetin, pterostilbene, quercetin |
Possible benefits
For people with metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes) or aging-related diseases, a higher dose of psilocybin may now be of additional interest. The reason is that at high doses, psilocybin not only deepens the mental experience, but may also improve cellular function. If psilocybin can indeed also increase telomere length as the research suggests, then people with the diseases listed below may benefit from psilocybin treatments.
| Illness or condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) | Serious lung disease with scarring of the lung tissue. |
| Aplastic anemia | Bone marrow failure syndrome, in which too few blood cells are produced. |
| Dyskeratosis congenita | Inherited disease with skin, nail and bone marrow problems due to a telomerase defect. |
| Leukemia (e.g. AML, CLL) | Some forms are related to telomere loss in stem cells. |
| Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) | Disorder in the production of blood cells due to bone marrow problems. |
| Liver cirrhosis / liver fibrosis | Too short telomeres can prevent the regeneration of liver cells. |
| Long-term emphysema (non-smokers) | It occurs more often in people with telomere diseases, even without a smoking history. |
| Early osteoporosis | Loss of bone mass at a relatively young age. |
| Type 2 diabetes | Shortened telomeres are more common in people with insulin resistance. |
| Cardiovascular diseases (including atherosclerosis) | Telomere shortening is associated with vascular aging. |
| Neurodegenerative diseases | As Alzheimer's en Parkinson's (possibly related to telomere erosion). |
| Early hair thinning and skin aging | Especially noticeable in genetic telomere disorders. |
Perspective
The idea that ‘magic mushrooms and truffles’ not only expand consciousness but may also keep cells young is captivating. Recent research shows that psilocybin extends cell lifespan and protects telomeres. Although it is highly plausible, further research is needed to determine exactly what it does to people.
For now, the main reasons for working with psilocybin Triptherapie remain other biochemical mechanisms of action, the psychological and spiritual benefits. The fact that psilocybin may also slow down biological aging makes our work all the more interesting. As soon as more research becomes available, we would be happy to share our insights with you.
Other mechanisms of action of psilocybin
We have known for a long time that psilocybin acts on the biochemical level in a much more comprehensive way than just causing the trip, and that it may be able to rejuvenate cells through other routes. Psilocybin, after all, causes more BDNF, neurogenesis, less inflammation, and can protect pancreatic cells in diabetes. All of these effects of psilocybin contribute to the antidepressant effects of psilocybin at the cellular level. You can read the articles about the different ways of action of psilocybin via the buttons below.
Psilocybin session at Triptherapie
When you participate in Triptherapie a psilocybin session, we also take your goals into account. If you want to have a session because of the possible rejuvenating properties of psilocybin, we can help you with additional tips related to your goal. An example is adding fisetine to your diet or as a supplement. Fisetine can work synergistically with psilocybin to promote cell rejuvenation. The more you do well around your psychedelic session, the better psilocybin can work.