In a new study, UC Berkeley researchers are investigating whether psilocybin can support healthy aging by boosting plasticity in the brains of older adults.
By Kara Manke
A new first-of-its-kind study at UC Berkeley is investigating whether psychedelics can help promote healthy aging. In the study, researchers use functional MRI, paired with other mental assessments, to measure the brain activity of older adults before and after a psychedelic experience. In this re-enactment, a volunteer demonstrates what a study participant might experience after taking a dose of psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, at the research lab in Berkeley.
Brandon Sánchez Mejia/UC Berkeley
June 8, 2026