Psychedelic compounds could offer new hope for people suffering from concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, according to new research from the University of Victoria.

Concussions and brain injuries affect an estimated 69 million people annually, often resulting from sports collisions, falls, road accidents and interpersonal violence. Effective treatments are limited, and there are no approved pharmacotherapies for these conditions.

A study from the Christie Lab at UVic examined the potential of two psychedelics—psilocybin, found in certain mushrooms, and 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), found in toad venom and select plants—to aid recovery.

The research, published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, was conducted by UVic researchers

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