Doctors, Scientists and Parents Embrace Psychedelics for Mind Enhancement
WHO:
NPR - The study involved 12 participants with Parkinson’s disease; Dr. Ellen Bradley, Aoife O’Donovan, and D. Parker Kelley co-authored the research.
Drudge Report - The headline identifies doctors, scientists, and PTA moms as people turning to psychedelics to enhance their minds.
NY Post - The headline identifies doctors, scientists, and PTA moms as people turning to drugs to enhance their minds.
NY Post - Asprey spoke to attendees; the article excerpt does not provide his first name or title.
WHAT:
NPR - After two psilocybin sessions, participants had significantly lower levels of five inflammation-related signaling molecules; the changes persisted one month after their final dose.
NPR - A blood marker of mitochondrial stress improved immediately after psilocybin, but not at longer-term follow-up.
NPR - The pilot study had no control group, and participants knew they were receiving psilocybin.
Drudge Report - The headline describes psychedelics as “go[ing] mainstream” and says doctors, scientists, and PTA moms are enhancing their minds with them.
NY Post - The headline asks whether psychedelics are going mainstream and describes doctors, scientists, and PTA moms turning to drugs to enhance their minds.
NY Post - Asprey told attendees, “This is the time for psychedelics to reemerge.”
WHERE:
NPR - Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted the study.
WHY:
NPR - Researchers said the findings could help explain why participants appeared to benefit during the trial and may warrant investigation of psychedelics for diseases involving inflammation.
Drudge Report - The headline characterizes mind enhancement as a reason the groups it names are using psychedelics.
NY Post - The headline characterizes mind enhancement as a reason the groups it names are turning to drugs.
HOW:
NPR - Researchers measured five inflammation-related signaling molecules and a mitochondrial-stress marker in participants’ blood before and after psilocybin treatment.
Drudge Report - The headline says the named groups are using psychedelics to enhance their minds.
NY Post - The headline says the named groups are turning to drugs to enhance their minds.
(UPDATED October 21, 2026 19:20 UTC)
A small University of California, San Francisco pilot study found that two psilocybin sessions were followed by lower levels of five inflammation-related signaling molecules in people with Parkinson’s disease. The reductions were still present one month after the participants’ final dose. Researchers also saw an immediate improvement in a blood marker of mitochondrial stress, but that change did not persist at longer-term follow-up. The study included just 12 participants, had no control group, and everyone knew they were receiving psilocybin, so the findings are preliminary. The researchers measured the blood markers before and after treatment, and said the results could help explain benefits observed during the trial. They may also warrant further research into psychedelics for diseases involving inflammation. Separately, headlines have described doctors, scientists, and PTA moms turning to psychedelics to enhance their minds. At an event, Asprey said, “This is the time for psychedelics to reemerge.”
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(UPDATED October 21, 2026 13:13 UTC)
Doctors, scientists, and PTA moms are turning to psychedelics to enhance their minds, with headlines asking whether the drugs are going mainstream. At an event, Asprey told attendees, “This is the time for psychedelics to reemerge.” The headlines describe mind enhancement as the reason these groups are using the drugs.