Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

Nadia R.P.W. Hutten; Natasha L. Mason; Patrick C. Dolder; Eef L. Theunissen; Friederike Holze; Matthias E Liechti; Nimmy Varghese; Anne Eckert; Amanda Feilding; Johannes G. Ramaekers; Kim P.C. Kuypers

doi:10.1021/acsptsci.0c00099

Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers

Nadia R.P.W. Hutten, Natasha L. Mason, Patrick C. Dolder, Eef L. Theunissen, Friederike Holze, Matthias E Liechti, Nimmy Varghese, Anne Eckert, Amanda Feilding, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Kim P.C. Kuypers^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in using low doses of psychedelics for psychiatric indications and the importance of neuroplasticity in the therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated the effect of single low doses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, and BDNF levels were determined afterward in blood plasma using ELISA. The findings demonstrated an increase in BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 h (5 μg) and 6 h (5 and 20 μg) compared to that for the placebo. The finding that LSD acutely increases BDNF levels warrants studies in patient populations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	461-466
Number of pages	6
Journal	ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
Volume	4
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00099
Publication status	Published - 9 Apr 2021

Keywords

psychedelics
LSD
neuroplasticity
BDNF
microdosing
placebo-controlled clinical trial
NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR
BRAIN
KETAMINE
PSYCHEDELICS

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Cite this

@article{7e51157a84f5440bb8a195d656264490,

title = "Low Doses of LSD Acutely Increase BDNF Blood Plasma Levels in Healthy Volunteers",

abstract = "Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in using low doses of psychedelics for psychiatric indications and the importance of neuroplasticity in the therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated the effect of single low doses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, and BDNF levels were determined afterward in blood plasma using ELISA. The findings demonstrated an increase in BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 h (5 μg) and 6 h (5 and 20 μg) compared to that for the placebo. The finding that LSD acutely increases BDNF levels warrants studies in patient populations.",

keywords = "psychedelics, LSD, neuroplasticity, BDNF, microdosing, placebo-controlled clinical trial, NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, BRAIN, KETAMINE, PSYCHEDELICS",

author = "Hutten, {Nadia R.P.W.} and Mason, {Natasha L.} and Dolder, {Patrick C.} and Theunissen, {Eef L.} and Friederike Holze and Liechti, {Matthias E} and Nimmy Varghese and Anne Eckert and Amanda Feilding and Ramaekers, {Johannes G.} and Kuypers, {Kim P.C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 American Chemical Society.",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1021/acsptsci.0c00099",

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AU - Hutten, Nadia R.P.W.

AU - Mason, Natasha L.

AU - Dolder, Patrick C.

AU - Theunissen, Eef L.

AU - Holze, Friederike

AU - Liechti, Matthias E

AU - Varghese, Nimmy

AU - Eckert, Anne

AU - Feilding, Amanda

AU - Ramaekers, Johannes G.

AU - Kuypers, Kim P.C.

PY - 2021/4/9

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N2 - Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in using low doses of psychedelics for psychiatric indications and the importance of neuroplasticity in the therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated the effect of single low doses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, and BDNF levels were determined afterward in blood plasma using ELISA. The findings demonstrated an increase in BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 h (5 μg) and 6 h (5 and 20 μg) compared to that for the placebo. The finding that LSD acutely increases BDNF levels warrants studies in patient populations.

AB - Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest in using low doses of psychedelics for psychiatric indications and the importance of neuroplasticity in the therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated the effect of single low doses of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels in healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, and BDNF levels were determined afterward in blood plasma using ELISA. The findings demonstrated an increase in BDNF blood plasma levels at 4 h (5 μg) and 6 h (5 and 20 μg) compared to that for the placebo. The finding that LSD acutely increases BDNF levels warrants studies in patient populations.

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KW - microdosing

KW - placebo-controlled clinical trial

KW - NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR

KW - BRAIN

KW - KETAMINE

KW - PSYCHEDELICS

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