Short answer: research into plant medicine and longevity suggests that Psilocybin and Ayahuasca may act on several biological mechanisms of aging (cellular lifespan, telomere length, neurogenesis and chronic inflammation). Almost all of that evidence is preclinical, and no human trial has yet shown that plant medicine extends lifespan or healthspan in people.
Key Takeaways: Plant Medicine and Longevity
- Longevity science increasingly measures healthspan (years lived in good health) rather than lifespan alone, and plant medicine research now intersects with several recognised hallmarks of aging.
- A 2025 Emory University study in npj Aging found that psilocin extended cellular lifespan by 29% at a moderate dose and 57% at a higher dose, while preserving telomere length and increasing SIRT1 expression.
- DMT, the active compound in ayahuasca, promotes neurogenesis and neuroplasticity in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
- Ayahuasca alkaloids and psilocin both show anti-inflammatory activity relevant to inflammaging, the chronic low-grade inflammation now considered a central driver of age-related disease and rising biological age.
- The evidence remains preclinical. Human trials are years away, and anyone considering plant medicine – whether microdosing or a full ceremony needs thorough medical screening, especially over the age of 60.
The science of longevity and the world of plant medicines are no longer separate. Not long ago, biohacking and longevity belonged to the fitness obsessives, while plant medicine belonged to the hippies and the woo-woo’s. Recent studies have collapsed that divide: plant medicine and longevity are now being investigated together, and the early results are striking.
Researchers are mapping the biological mechanisms of aging with increasing precision – telomere shortening, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, the slow decline of neuroplasticity. On the other, a growing body of peer-reviewed research is revealing that the same compounds found in Ayahuasca and Psilocybin mushrooms may directly address several of these mechanisms.
Findings are coming from institutions like Johns Hopkins, Emory University, the Complutense University of Madrid, and Imperial College London and published in journals including Nature, Translational Psychiatry, and Molecular Medicine.
At Behold, we do not make direct medical or longevity claims, but we wholeheartedly believe them and we believe this research deserves your attention because it reframes plant medicine not only as alternative practice, but as a serious area of scientific investigation with implications far beyond mental health.
For a deeper understanding of how neurogenesis and neuroplasticity work, we recommend starting with our earlier guide on the subject: Unlock Neurogenesis & Neuroplasticity: Grow Your Brain Cells →
Longevity vs. Healthspan: What We Actually Mean
When longevity scientists talk about extending life, they are usually referring to two distinct concepts. The first is lifespan (how long you live) and the second, and increasingly the more important one, is healthspan (how long you live well). How many years of sharp cognition, emotional resilience, physical vitality, and meaningful connection you actually get.
The factors that erode healthspan are already well established: chronic stress, persistent inflammation, cognitive decline, poor mental health, and the gradual loss of the brain’s ability to repair and adapt. Research into plant medicine and longevity is now intersecting with each of these hallmarks of aging.
Psilocybin and Cellular Aging: What the Emory University Study Found
In 2025, researchers at Emory University published a study in npj Aging (Nature) that produced some of the most striking findings yet. They treated human cells with psilocin (the active metabolite the body produces when it processes Psilocybin) and tracked what happened over time.
The results: at a moderate dose, psilocin extended cellular lifespan by 29%. At a higher dose, cells lived 57% longer than untreated controls. The treated cells did not become cancerous. They simply aged more slowly and continued to divide and function normally before reaching the natural end of their lifespan.
The study also found that psilocin preserved telomere length (the protective caps on chromosomes that shorten as we age) and reduced oxidative stress, one of the primary drivers of cellular deterioration. The mechanism appears to involve increased expression of SIRT1, a protein that regulates cellular aging, metabolism, and stress response.
When the researchers extended the study to aged mice, those treated with psilocybin showed improved survival and healthier physical characteristics compared to untreated controls.
This is early-stage research. It has not been replicated in human clinical trials. But it represents the first experimental evidence suggesting that Psilocybin may directly impact multiple hallmarks of aging.
Ayahuasca, DMT, and Neurogenesis in the Aging Brain
One of the most consistent findings across plant medicine research is that DMT (the naturally occurring compound in Ayahuasca) promotes neurogenesis: the birth of new brain cells.
A landmark 2020 study from the Complutense University of Madrid, published in Translational Psychiatry, demonstrated that DMT not only stimulated the growth of new neurons but also induced the formation of other critical neural cells, including astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The researchers concluded that this capacity to modulate brain plasticity suggests significant therapeutic potential for both psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions.
A separate 2024 systematic review published in Molecular Medicine examined eleven studies on tryptamines (including DMT and Psilocybin) and found that the majority provided evidence these compounds enhance aspects of neuroplasticity, regardless of their specific type.
Why does this matter for longevity? Because cognitive decline – the gradual erosion of memory, emotional regulation, learning capacity, and mental flexibility is one of the defining features of aging. Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity are the brain’s primary tools for resisting that decline. Anything that demonstrably supports these processes is, by definition, supporting health span.
Inflammaging: How Chronic Inflammation Drives Biological Aging
Chronic, low-grade inflammation – what researchers have termed “inflammaging” is now understood to be one of the central mechanisms driving age-related disease. It contributes to everything from cardiovascular disease to neurodegeneration to depression.
Research into Ayahuasca’s component compounds has revealed significant anti-inflammatory properties. A systematic review published in Psychoactives (2025) concluded that Ayahuasca and its alkaloids possess notable anti-inflammatory effects mediated through multiple neurochemical systems, particularly the serotonergic and GABAergic pathways.
Separately, harmine (one of the primary beta-carboline alkaloids in the Ayahuasca vine) has been shown in preclinical studies to reduce excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation while increasing levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), a growth factor critical for brain health that naturally declines with age.
Psilocybin research is converging on similar findings. A 2025 study published in International Immunopharmacology demonstrated that psilocin promotes a microglial phenotype that reduces inflammation while simultaneously supporting neuroplasticity through both serotonergic signaling and activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR).
Plant Medicine and Longevity: The Evidence at a Glance
| Compound | Longevity mechanism observed | Evidence level | Key study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocin (psilocybin metabolite) | Extended cellular lifespan, telomere preservation, lower oxidative stress, increased SIRT1 | Human cells, in vitro | Kato et al., npj Aging, 2025 |
| Psilocybin | Improved survival and healthier physical characteristics in aged animals | Animal model | Kato et al., npj Aging, 2025 |
| DMT (ayahuasca) | Adult neurogenesis; astrocyte and oligodendrocyte formation | In vitro and in vivo | Morales-García et al., Translational Psychiatry, 2020 |
| Tryptamines (DMT, psilocybin) | Broader neuroplasticity across multiple measures | Systematic review of 11 studies | Lima da Cruz et al., Molecular Medicine, 2024 |
| Harmine (Banisteriopsis caapi) | Reduced excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation; increased BDNF | Preclinical | Dos Santos & Hallak, J. Psychoactive Drugs, 2017 |
| Ayahuasca alkaloids | Anti-inflammatory effects via serotonergic and GABAergic pathways | Systematic review, preclinical | Psychoactives, 2025 |
| Psilocin | Microglial shift toward reduced inflammation plus BDNF support via 5-HT and AhR signalling | In vitro | Laabi et al., Int. Immunopharmacology, 2025 |
What This Plant Medicine and Longevity Research Does and Does Not Prove
We want to be direct about what this research represents and where its boundaries lie.
These findings are very real, peer-reviewed, and published in respected scientific journals. They are not wellness folklore or our marketing claims. The biological mechanisms being identified – neurogenesis, telomere preservation, SIRT1 activation, BDNF upregulation, anti-inflammatory modulation – are the same mechanisms that the broader longevity science community is actively working to target.
And at the same time, the majority of this research remains preclinical. The cellular lifespan study has not been replicated in human clinical trials. The neurogenesis research, while robust and replicated across multiple studies, is still in its early stages of being understood in terms of long-term human impact. Responsible scientists are clear that human trials are years away from confirming whether these effects translate into meaningful lifespan or healthspan extension.
What we can say is this: the converging evidence suggests that plant medicines like Ayahuasca and Psilocybin may support several of the biological processes most closely associated with healthy aging while simultaneously addressing the psychological factors (chronic stress, trauma, depression, disconnection) that are themselves major accelerants of biological decline.
Plant Medicine and Longevity: Frequently Asked Questions
Can Ayahuasca or Psilocybin extend your lifespan?
There is no clinical evidence in humans to support that claim at this time. However, preclinical research has shown that psilocin can extend cellular lifespan by up to 57% in laboratory settings and improve survival in aged mice. These are promising early findings that warrant further investigation.
What is neurogenesis and why does it matter for longevity?
Neurogenesis is the process of growing new brain cells. It is one of the brain’s primary tools for maintaining cognitive function, emotional resilience, and adaptability as we age. DMT, the active compound in Ayahuasca, has been shown to promote neurogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
Is plant medicine safe for older adults?
This is an area where research is still limited. A 2024 observational study followed 62 individuals aged 60 and older who participated in group Psilocybin ceremonies and found statistically significant improvements in psychological wellbeing. However, comprehensive medical screening is essential. At Behold, every guest completes a thorough screening process before acceptance.
How does inflammation relate to aging?
Chronic low-grade inflammation is now understood to be one of the central drivers of age-related disease, contributing to conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to neurodegeneration. Both Ayahuasca and Psilocybin have shown anti-inflammatory properties in preclinical research.
Sources
- Kato K, Kleinhenz JM, Shin Y-J, Coarfa C, Zarrabi AJ, Hecker L. “Psilocybin treatment extends cellular lifespan and improves survival of aged mice.” npj Aging (Nature), 2025;11(1):55.
- Morales-García JA, Calleja-Conde J, Lopez-Moreno JA, et al. “N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo.” Translational Psychiatry, 2020;10(1):331.
- Lima da Cruz RV, Leão RN, Moulin TC. “Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity: a systematic review.” Molecular Medicine, 2024;30(1):244.
- Haupt MJ, Carra S, Boehnke KF, Aday JS. “Preliminary effects of ayahuasca on mental and physical health: a systematic review of prospective studies.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 2026;145:111634.
- “Ayahuasca, pain, and inflammation: a systematic review of preclinical studies.” Psychoactives, 2025;4(3):24.
- Laabi S, LeMmon C, Vogel C, Chacon M, Jimenez VM Jr. “Psilocybin and psilocin regulate microglial immunomodulation and support neuroplasticity via serotonergic and AhR signaling.” International Immunopharmacology, 2025;159:114940.
- Dos Santos RG, Hallak JE. “Effects of the natural β-carboline alkaloid harmine, a main constituent of ayahuasca, in memory and in the hippocampus: a systematic literature review of preclinical studies.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 2017;49(1):1-10.
- Kettner H, Roseman L, Gazzaley A, Carhart-Harris RL, Pasquini L. “Effects of psychedelics in older adults: a prospective cohort study.” American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2024;32(9):1047-1059.
