RT Journal Article
T1 Therapeutic properties of ayahuasca component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in a pre-clinical model of Parkinson's disease
A1 Calleja Conde, Javier
A1 Echeverry Alzate, Víctor
A1 Sanz SanCristobal, Marina
A1 Alonso Gil, Sandra
A1 Giné Domínguez, Elena
A1 Buhler, Kora Mareen Katharina
A1 López Moreno, José Antonio
A1 Pérez Castillo, Ana
A1 Morales García, José Ángel
AB Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with increasing global prevalence, primarily driven by population ageing. A hallmark of the disease is the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, accompanied by marked activation of glial cells and a sustained neuroinflammatory response. Current pharmacological treatments are limited to symptomatic relief and do not halt or reverse disease progression. Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian psychoactive brew, has attracted growing scientific interest for its potential therapeutic effects in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions. Its principal psychoactive compound, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), acts as an agonist at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor—responsible for its hallucinogenic properties—and at the sigma-1 receptor, a molecular target implicated in neuroprotection and modulation of inflammation. This study investigates the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory potential of DMT in a preclinical model of Parkinson's disease. Our findings demonstrate that DMT administration results in molecular changes within the nigrostriatal pathway consistent with reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal preservation. Furthermore, behavioral assessments indicate symptomatic improvements following treatment. These results support the therapeutic potential of DMT as a disease-modifying agent in Parkinson's disease and warrant further investigation.
PB Elsevier
SN 0014-4886
YR 2026
FD 2026-05-12
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/137136
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/137136
LA eng
NO Javier Calleja-Conde, Víctor Echeverry-Alzate, Marina Sanz-SanCristobal, Sandra Alonso-Gil, Elena Giné, Kora Bühler, Jose A. López-Moreno, Ana Perez-Castillo, José A. Morales-García, Therapeutic properties of ayahuasca component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in a pre-clinical model of Parkinson's disease, Experimental Neurology, Volume 403, 2026, 115822, ISSN 0014-4886, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2026.115822.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 14 jun 2026