June 2023 Newsletter | Brain Action with Psychedelics
Brain Action with Psychedelics
My mission is to be the first woman in 4 generations to not develop Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). On my journey of discovering ways to mitigate my risk, I pass this information on to you in this Brain-Body-Health (BBH) Newsletter.
In the May issue of BBH, I discussed genetic testing (GT) and how it led me to the APOE 4 gene connecting the dots of our family’s AD susceptibility. The BBH Program and this letter stemmed from the outgrowth of that testing. There is a backstory to GT related to this month’s topic on psychedelic medicine. It began with my waning enthusiasm for psychiatry and a one size fits all medication approach. In 2013, there wasn’t much psychedelic research going on but a few studies, mostly at academic centers, like Johns Hopkins, with Roland Griffiths intrigued me. Michael Pollen was still known for his best selling Omnivores Dilemma and had not published his book How to Change Your Mind or his Netflix series. My husband and I, having experimented a bit in the 60’s with an array of psychedelics, went to a MAPS seminar with Michael Mithofer, a psychiatrist working with MDMA whose research was showing improvements with PTSD. At the time, I thought this could be a way to help people out of “stuck” states of being and improve their mental/emotional health. I had connections in the Bay Area to the ‘guiding’ community leading me to my first magic carpet ride with MDMA and later psilocybin. Despite some important insights with these ‘journeys’, I also had unexpected complications similar to what I had experienced in the past with general anesthesia and pain medication, nausea, significant vomiting, and tremors.
What was causing my brain to respond differently to these medicines while others were raving about their insights? Later, I would ask this question about the preponderance of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in Our Family Story. Why was it happening? I put on my Sherlock Holmes hat, no pipe please, and started combing research. Following the clues I discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (try to say that one quickly). Ha! SNP’s are variations of our DNA responsible for causing various diseases like sickle cell, types of cancer, heart disease, and AD. In the liver, SNP’s are involved in the breakdown of medicines. The SNP variation known as the CYP2D6 affects the metabolism of close to 50% of drugs in clinical use. The consequence can be either adverse or no response. Could I have this variation that made it difficult to metabolize MDMA and psilocybin? A genetic test provided the answer. Drum roll. Yes, I did have a SNP (variation) in my 2D6 which is part of the liver’s chain of metabolic enzymes responsible for breaking down medicines. That is the reason I’ve had side effects from various medicines, including my experience with psychedelics. Further delving provided confirming evidence that MDMA is metabolized by the 2D6 receptor. How many people have this variant? This worldwide map represents populations carrying the 2D6 SNP. If you live in Algeria your risk is 61%. In the United States if you are Native American 10%, Latinx 23%, African American 39%, and European 36%. Many doctors are screening for 2D6 via a simple saliva PCR test especially psychiatrists and cardiologists, who dispense an array of medicines that can affect the 2D6. This can potentially save unnecessary trials of medication and avoid consumer side effects. And that is exactly why I started using genetic testing in my psychiatry practice in 2013 to help determine what medicine would be best for clients.
When my mother was diagnosed with AD, the academic center where she was being treated, discouraged us from seeking genetic testing, but that same nagging question propelled me: Why was AD happening in successive generations in our family? Because of my experiences with psychedelic therapy, I knew the clues lay in our genes. Our family bravely went against medical recommendations and tested for the APOE4 gene. All of us carry this highest-risk gene, explaining our inherited susceptibility. It does not allude me that my challenging ‘magic carpet ride’ led to the exploration of genetic testing. This laid the foundation for the BBH program, whose purpose continues to be: to utilize scientifically based actions to reduce and reverse Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.
LESSONS FROM COACHING
Many people have reached out to me about psychedelic therapy. MDMA, also known as ecstasy was used in couples therapy in the 1980’s. Psilocybin is legal in Oregon. Both MDMA and Psilocybin are illegal in the US. Ketamine is legal and is used for treatment-resistant depression. I have referred a number of people to Tememos Center and will continue to do so. Most everyone referred to the center has had improvement in symptoms, including a dear friend, who has struggled with depression and anxiety much of their life.
In our community, a number of friends have been diagnosed with cognitive impairment. On one hand, this is scary APOE 4, on the other hand, it can be a door to action. The earlier the diagnosis there is more one can do to improve and reverse cognitive impairment. Let SLEDSSS be your guide (see the BBH Home Page for more information). If you are concerned about your memory or the memory of a loved one do reach out.
My friend and colleague, artist Margo Frank, LCSW will have a solo art show at Ukiah Library from July 7 - Aug 24th, addressing the thin line we walk between cognition and dementia, health and illness, life and death. Art Walk with music Friday, August 4, 5-7 pm.
LESSONS FROM SCIENCE:
1) How do psychedelics work?
2) Podcast: Sh*t Show: When things go wrong in the psychedelic world with poor boundaries. Warning this series has sexual trauma and can be triggering to certain people.
3) Michael Pollen’s 2018 NYT Magazine article “The Trip Doctors.”
4) Can Psilocybin increase neurogenesis in the hippocampus?
5) What’s the effect of these drugs on the brain: Toward a Unified Model of Brain Action with Psychedelics.
To our optimized health!
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“If you want to go FAST, go alone. If you want to go FAR, go together."
- African proverb
To our optimized health!