Can Psychedelics Improve Wellbeing in Older Adults?
As a nutritionist I am fascinated by specific compounds that we consume that can improve our health and wellbeing. Something that has always intrigued me has been the potential benefits of psychedelics such as psilocybin. Recently a study was carried out that looked into the potential benefits on wellbeing for older adults. Here we’ll be reviewing that study, letting you know what they did, what they found and any key takeaways!
Effects of Psychedelics in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study
This is the name of the study and it was carried out by Hannes Kettner et al in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry with an aim to investigate the effects of psychedelics on the mental wellbeing of older adults (aged 60 and above) compared to younger adults. The researchers were particularly interested in understanding how these substances may impact things such as anxiety, low mood, and loneliness, which are often common issues that older adults suffer from.
Study Overview: Participants, Methodology, and Key Findings
The study included 62 older adults and 62 matched younger adults who were all planning to attend a guided psychedelic group session. The sessions were conducted in controlled group sessions, and typically involved psilocybin. The participants then completed surveys designed to assess changes in well being over time using standardised scales such as the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. The surveys were completed before the session, a day after , two weeks after, four weeks and six months post. The researches also assessed the intensity of the psychedelic experience and the importance of social and relational experiences during the sessions.
They found that both groups experienced improvements in well-being with the older adults experiencing similar benefits but reporting on average, less intense psychedelic experiences. One of the key findings was that in older adults, the improvements in well being were more strongly associated with the quality of social interactions as opposed to the intensity of the psychedelic experience itself.
This backs up what we already know with regards to social environments being crucial for all humans well being but more so for older adults who often experience loneliness.
Did the Benefits of Psychedelic Sessions Last? A Look at Six-Month Follow-Up Data
The benefits of the sessions were still shown on the surveys at the two week and 4 week marks with an average increase of 4 points on the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale at 2 weeks and 3 points at 4 weeks!
However by the six month mark, the benefits had appeared to diminish slightly. Wellbeing scores were still slightly elevated compared to baseline but this was not statistically significant. Thus implying that the sustained benefits may not be upheld without repeated sessions.
Potential Benefits For Existing Mental Health Conditions
Interestingly the researchers found that in older adults with pre existing diagnoses of psychiatric conditions the psychedelics led to greater improvements in well-being. Potentially suggesting that the process may be especially effective for those with pre existing mental health conditions.
Potential Limitations and Considerations for Future Research
The main limitation of this study was it’s reliance on self reported data from a specific context (psychedelic retreats), which might not generalise to other settings. Additionally, the study did not control for the exact dosage of the psychedlics or potential co-use of other substances as the participants were on multiple different “retreats”. This could definitely influence the results.
Future research should potentially look to standardise dosages and the process of the “retreat” itself. But this paper does provide potentially promising information for the use of psychedelics in a controlled environment to improve wellbeing.
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