DMT Shows Promise in Stroke Recovery: New Research Unveils Mechanism of Action
DMT, or dimethyltryptamine, a naturally occurring psychoactive molecule found in plants, mammals, and even the human brain, is showing notable promise as a potential treatment for stroke. Researchers from the HUN-REN BRC Institute of Biophysics and Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Centre, publishing their findings in Science Advances, have demonstrated that DMT reduces the harmful effects of stroke in both animal models and cell culture experiments. Clinical trials are already underway to explore its ability to aid recovery of brain function after stroke.
Until now,the precise way DMT exerted its beneficial effects remained unclear. This new research reveals a dual-action mechanism: DMT restores the structure and function of the damaged blood-brain barrier and reduces brain inflammation.
“we found that DMT substantially reduced infarct volume and edema formation in a rat stroke model,” explains Marcell László, co-first author of the study. The team observed that DMT treatment improved the function of astroglial cells, inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines in brain and immune cells, and reduced the activation of brain microglia cells via Sigma-1 receptors.
“The therapeutic options currently available for stroke are very limited,” says Judit Vigh, also a co-first author. ”The dual action of DMT, protecting the blood-brain barrier while reducing brain inflammation, offers a novel, complex approach that could complement existing treatments.”
given the limitations of current stroke therapies, a DMT-based treatment, particularly when used in conjunction with existing methods, could represent a significant advancement. These findings from researchers in hungary support the development of a therapy that addresses stroke recovery in a new and perhaps more effective way. Ongoing clinical trials will further investigate the use of DMT and its long-term effects.
As Mária Deli, co-lead author from the HUN-REN BRC, aptly states, “It is indeed amazing how we can always turn to Nature to find ingenious solutions for health problems.”
