Psilocybin may block chemotherapy-induced nerve pain, mouse study suggests

New research in mice indicates that two doses of psilocybin can shield nerves from damage caused by multiple rounds of chemotherapy, potentially preventing peripheral neuropathy. The study, published in Science, is the first to demonstrate psilocybin's neuroprotective effect rather than just its therapeutic use. Researchers say the findings could lead to new preventive strategies for a painful side effect that often persists long after cancer treatment ends.

The study’s protective effect emerged after just two psilocybin doses, shielding mice from nerve damage across up to six chemotherapy cycles, even when tumors were present or different chemo drugs were used. Researchers traced this to mitochondria, the cells’ energy producers, which travel along microtubule “railroads” inside neurons. Chemotherapy disrupts these tracks, but psilocybin appeared to keep mitochondrial movement intact. The team repeated the experiments many times after an initial accidental observation, finding consistent prevention of neuropathy. While the work is limited to mice and lab cells, the authors note anecdotal reports of cancer patients in psilocybin trials for other reasons, hinting at possible human relevance.