Louise Hecker, PhD, is a scientist of the cellular mechanisms of aging, such as oxidative stress and endogenous antioxidant enzymes in lung tissue and how such mechanisms influence development of fibrotic lung tissue. During the early phases of this study on the effects of psilocbin on aging in human cells and mice, she was an Associate Professor at Emory University, whereas toward the final data analysis and manuscript preparation, she held the same position at Baylor College of Medicine.The study discussed in this episode investigated psilocybin’s ability to prolong cellular lifespan and reduce oxidative stress in human fibroblasts, and it reported that higher doses extended cellular lifespan dose-dependently by up to 57 %. In aged mice, monthly psilocybin dosing markedly improved survival and even restored fur color and hair growth. Both the cell study and the mouse study suggest that psilocybin targets multiple hallmarks of aging, possibly even reversing some age-related processes.The study, "Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice": https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-025-00244-xYou can connect with Dr. Hecker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-hecker-69ba1915/ and on X: https://x.com/heckerlouise.Episode chapters:00:00:00 Can psilocybin slow cellular aging?

00:03:29 Introducing aging researcher Dr. Louise Hecker

00:08:24 The psilocybin-telomere hypothesis explained

00:10:18 What telomeres are & why they shorten with age

00:17:14 Psilocybin makes old cells "behave" like young cells

00:23:23 Regulatory hurdles of psilocybin research

00:25:54 Checking cancer risk & cell division results

00:30:12 Measuring life extension in cells

00:36:34 Scar tissue, fibroblasts & aging

00:42:25 When to start treatment & dosing of psilocybin for maximum anti-aging effects?

00:46:38 Designing the psilocybin mouse study

00:57:28 Mice live longer & look younger after monthly psilocybin dosing

01:07:44 Unanswered questions & follow-up studies

01:27:44 Implications for chronic diseases