How have psychedelics been tested to show that they are a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s?

That’s actually pretty simple, because there is such a huge need for novel medications for Alzheimer’s and different types of dementia, there’s a lot of work going on in the field. In the last 30 years or so we’ve seen hundreds of medications being tested, and some of the basics around that type of work include looking at stuff like whether or not people are having improvements in memory, in working memory using simple tests. If they’re seeing improved cognition, if their loved ones or their caregivers are noticing improvements in their mood or memory. In these types of clinical trials, usually you start small, and you extrapolate from preclinical literature, something like an animal testing model that shows enhancements in learning and memory, and that it’s not harmful and non-toxic. Luckily, because we’ve been working at our lab and other’s really actively with Psylocibin, which is derived from so called “magic mushrooms,” we’ve got a good basis of human research to also look back on and say, “This really seems to improve quality of life.”