More than 55 million people globally suffer from neurodegenerative illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, with such conditions sadly being on the rise. Parkinson’s disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s and results from the loss of specific brain cells that produce dopamine in the mid-brain. This loss leads to progressive symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, speech difficulties, poor coordination and balance, as well as non-motor symptoms like dementia and depression. While treatments can ease symptoms, none reverse the disease’s effects.
However, recent research has revealed that the benefits of psychedelic treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, such as with psilocybin and the oneirogen ibogaine, might well be breaking new ground in symptom management and overall life quality. But what, one may ask, could psychedelics have to do with alleviating symptoms of Parkinson’s or other neurodegenerative diseases? The answer is neurogenesis.
Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain, is crucial for several aspects of brain function, including learning, memory, and the overall plasticity of the brain. Traditionally believed to largely occur during prenatal development and diminish significantly after birth, more recent research has demonstrated that neurogenesis continues throughout life in specific areas of the brain such as the hippocampus. This understanding has significant implications for neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as mental health disorders such as depression. Enhancing neurogenesis has become a target for potential therapies aiming to improve brain repair and cognitive function in these conditions.
The World’s Most (In)Famous Parkinson’s Patient
Imagine being 29 years old, a leading comedy actor of your generation, and a cultural icon through your work in the 1980s and 1990s. Your career thrives on your masterful control of facial expressions and body language, making the sky seem the limit for your creativity.
Then, you receive devastating news: you will progressively start to lose control of your body due to Parkinson’s disease. You are Michael J. Fox, still riding the wave of success from “Back to the Future III” in 1991, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to halt the onset of your diagnosis.
While Michael J. Fox is not alone in his diagnosis, his story has significantly illuminated the profound distress of living in a body that becomes progressively more unfamiliar and uncooperative over time.
Over 1 million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder expected to rise by 60% within 20 years. Its main pathogenetic mechanism may involve autoimmune reactions before symptom onset. Autoimmune diseases impact about 5% of the population, with no cure for Parkinson’s or similar disorders; current treatments, while effective up to a point, focus mostly on symptom management and life prolongation. In light of this, it is not surprising that the scientific community have taken an interest in ibogaine treatment for Parkinson’s disease (and other psychedelics) as they continue to break new ground not only in their therapeutic benefits for autoimmune diseases as well as for Parkinson’s.
According to a 2017 study, evidence was uncovered that there is a clear link between autoimmune diseases and Parkinson’s. The study revealed that clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein act as magnets for specific T cells, causing them to wrongly attack brain cells, which could lead to the progression of Parkinson’s.
Even though the adult human brain has a limited ability to regenerate, new brain cells can still form throughout a person’s life, and recent research has identified specific proteins and pathways that help in the regrowth of brain cells. One protein, called Nurr1, is particularly important in this process and is found in areas of the brain involved in movement and emotion control.
Nurr1 helps in the development of certain brain cells that manage dopamine, a chemical crucial for brain functions like movement and reward. The protein also plays a role in managing dopamine within the brain. Problems with this dopamine system have been linked to Parkinson’s disease, and any natural method of enhancing it could potentially slow the disease’s progression.
How Ibogaine Holds Promise in Parkinson’s Disease Symptom Management
Initially driven by curiosity about how ibogaine’s mechanisms of action affect the brain’s dopamine system, a team at Columbia University is currently exploring the alkaloid’s effects on Parkinson’s Disease. Although ibogaine has been primarily studied for its potential to treat addiction, researchers also see promise of ibogaine treatment for Parkinson’s Disease.
Trials have shown that ibogaine promotes neuroregeneration in Parkinson’s patients, its potential owing to its ability to boost a protein called glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). This protein encourages the growth of dopaminergic fibers, which can regenerate the damaged neurons and potentially improve symptoms of the disease.
Previous methods to increase GDNF involved complex procedures like gene therapy and direct brain infusions. Wanting to investigate less invasive methods by comparing traditional treatments with ibogaine treatments for Parkinson’s disease, the Columbia research team, led by Dr. Serge Przedborski, is investigating whether ibogaine could be a simpler and safer method to enhance GDNF production in the brain.
Clinical Trials of Ibogaine Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
Despite the legal challenges involved in ibogaine research (it remains in many countries still listed as a Schedule I substance), ongoing research into its biochemical mechanisms in Parkinson’s is because of its role in releasing GDNF, which might contribute to its lasting psychological benefits by inducing a state of heightened brain adaptability, akin to a neurological reset. This not only helps repair brain pathways damaged by addiction and mental health issues, but could also put ibogaine on the map as an alternative treatment to Levodopa for Parkinson’s.
Continued research into ibogaine’s effectiveness for addiction is slowly moving forward with planned Phase 1 and 2 trials. Some researchers suggest that ibogaine could be more easily studied for Parkinson’s compared to addiction treatment because it might be effective at much lower, more frequent doses, which are generally well tolerated.
Tabula Rasa Retreat at the Forefront of Ibogaine Research for Parkinson’s
At one of Tabula Rasa Retreat’s partner institutes in Mexico, which was among the first to conduct in-house trials for ibogaine, CKBR-12, a pharmaceutical product containing Ibogaine HCl, is being evaluated as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This product is currently under development by a branch of Genesis Research Group, Inc.
The substance was first tested in a clinical trial designed to assess its effectiveness in alleviating both motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. The trial adopted a comprehensive, patient-centric approach to care, and results showed a quick improvement in these symptoms, enhancing the overall health-related quality of life for patients.
The Case of Patient D
In 2012, at age 69, Patient D was diagnosed with Atypical Parkinson’s, which had progressed significantly, affecting his facial muscles, balance, speech, and hand coordination, and diminishing his creative drive.
In December 2014, he started treatment with CKBR-12, an experimental ibogaine-derivative. After a 30-day treatment involving twice-daily doses, he regained the ability to handle objects and saw improvement in his overall symptoms, allowing for normal conversations and simple tasks like buttoning shirts. Anyone suffering from Parkinson’s will know that this level of recovered agency is no small feat.
In an interview, Patient D described regaining “sharpness” in several areas, noting these improvements as significant. During the time he received treatment, further improvement was noted, drawing attention from medical professionals like Dr. Susanne Cappendijk of Florida State University Medical Center, who discussed his case at a New York Academy of Sciences conference.
The novel outcomes of ibogaine’s treatment success for Parkinson’s in the areas noted led to the submission of provisional patent applications in the US and under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) for a Rapid Method for Reducing Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Early data suggest that symptoms improve within two weeks of starting treatment with CKBR-12, with positive effects persisting in patients being monitored over an eight-year period.
Ibogaine treatment for Parkinson’s Disease showed reductions in bradykinesia (the noticeable slowing and reduced amplitude of voluntary movements) and rigidity, resulting in better postural stability, gait, balance, and speech. Additionally, reductions in excessive salivation and drooling were observed. Remarkably, patients also showed no signs of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues during the 30-day treatment period.
Data for this study were collected using Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) tools and video evaluations to measure HRQOL. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that CKBR-12 could represent a groundbreaking method for mitigating Parkinson’s symptoms and enhancing the quality of life for those affected.
However, these promising results on the severity and frequency of multiple non-motor symptoms (NMS) still require FDA approval; however, if validated, CKBR-12 could potentially reduce the increasing social disability seen in Parkinson’s patients and, by extension, lessen the socioeconomic costs associated with healthcare.
The Future of Ibogaine as a Prescription Medicine
Currently, ibogaine is illegal in the U.S. but is legal and used experimentally in countries like Canada, Mexico, and Portugal (where Tabula Rasa Retreat is based), where it is currently unregulated.
Despite obstacles from regulatory requirements and the pharmaceutical industry’s focus on more profitable, ongoing treatment protocols, the unique potential of ibogaine for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s could attract significant research funding, offering hope where few other treatments have shown promise.