Low doses of LSD acutely increase BDNF blood plasma levels in healthy volunteers
Open accessAbstract
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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A single low dose of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) administered to healthy volunteers (n = 24) resulted in increased serum BDNF levels compared to placebo, 6 h after treatment.
“A single, low dose of LSD (5, 10, and 20 μg) administered to healthy volunteers (n = 24) resulted in increased serum BDNF levels compared to placebo, 6 h after treatment (50).”
From Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics. (2021) · cites this paper as [50]
The Abstract (page not provided) reports higher BDNF than placebo at 6 h after 5 and 20 μg of LSD, but not after 10 μg. Materials and Methods specifies that BDNF was measured in plasma, not serum. Although 24 volunteers participated, the Results says the dose-by-dose statistical analyses used smaller complete-case groups. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBlood plasma BDNF levels were elevated at 4 h after administration for the 5 μg dose and at 6 h for the 20 μg dose of LSD.
“Blood samples taken every 2 h, until 6 h after administration, showed elevated plasma BDNF levels at 4 h after administration for the 5 μg, and at 6 h for the 20 μg dose.”
From Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics. (2021) · cites this paper as [50]
Evidence from four randomized, placebo-controlled studies shows that a single treatment with ayahuasca or LSD can, but does not always, increase circulating BDNF in healthy volunteers and TRD patients.
“Evidence from four randomized, placebo-controlled studies investigating the acute and subacute, but not long-term effects, of a single dose of psychedelics on a molecular level show that a single treatment with ayahuasca or LSD can, but does not always, increase circulating BDNF in healthy volunteers and TRD patients (47–50) (Table 2).”
From Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics. (2021) · cites this paper as [50]
BDNF levels were highest at 4 h after treatment for the 5 μg dose and at 6 h after treatment for the 10 μg and 20 μg doses of LSD, suggesting dose-specific stimulation of BDNF.
“BDNF levels were highest at 4 h after treatment for the 5 μg dose and at 6 h after treatment for the 10 μg and 20 μg doses, suggesting dose-specific stimulation of BDNF (50).”
From Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics. (2021) · cites this paper as [50]
Findings from clinical studies showed that blood BDNF levels were directly elevated in healthy participants that were treated with a single dose of LSD.
“Similarly, findings from clinical studies showed that blood BDNF levels were directly elevated in healthy participants that were treated with a single dose of LSD.”
From Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review Unraveling the Biological Underpinnings of Psychedelics. (2021) · cites this paper as [50]
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- Authors
- Hutten, N. R. P. W., Mason, N. L., Dolder, P. C., Theunissen, E. L., Holze, F., Liechti, M. E., Varghese, N., Eckert, A., Feilding, A., Ramaekers, J. G., & Kuypers, K. P. C.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University (NL)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Beckley Foundation (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Kuypers, Kim P. C.
- ORCID
- Venue
- ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2020-08-31
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 461-466
- ISSN
- 2575-9108 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8033605
- OpenAlex
- W3082850425
- Semantic Scholar
- 9c48f5c96598d92e57eb0d6c99644b852e780dd4
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 6.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- edoc (University of Basel) (submittedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- The Beckley Foundation (NA)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Keywords
- LSD, lysergic acid diethylamide, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuroplasticity, healthy volunteers
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