Comparing psilocybin to metformin as neuroprotective agents against Parkinson's dementia: A systematic review of evidence and efficacy

The treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) has mostly focused on relieving symptoms, without significant changes in how it's treated. Currently, there are no proven ways to prevent PD. This study looks at two potential treatments, metformin (MTF) and psilocybin, to see if they could help prevent the development of PD. The authors reviewed studies that tested these two compounds in lab experiments and animal models to see if they have protective effects on the brain. The review found that MTF might slow the progression of PD by reducing damage caused by oxidative stress in cells, which helps prevent damage linked to the buildup of harmful proteins. Psilocybin, on the other hand, could help repair damaged brain cells by activating certain brain pathways, increasing the release of a protein (BDNF) that promotes brain health and reducing harmful protein buildup associated with PD. This study suggests that more research is needed to explore using MTF off-label and to further study compounds like psilocybin for preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.