Intelligent Medicine | The Best of High Tech Medicine and Alternative Modalities

Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health: Research, Safety, and the Path to FDA Approval: Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, co-authors of “Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life,” reveal the shift from recreational psychedelics to structured, research-based psychedelic-assisted therapy for conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Van Derveer describes limitations of conventional psychiatry (citing STAR*D remission rates) and his entry into MDMA-assisted PTSD research after promising results. They contrast controlled clinical protocols—screening, preparation, safe setting, trained facilitation, medical monitoring, and post-session integration—with uncontained recreational use. The discussion covers current policy momentum under Trump and RFK Jr., VA interest for veterans, and key agents: ketamine (including abuse risks and clinic-only Spravato), MDMA (phase 3 but not approved in 2024), psilocybin (phase 3, potential FDA approval), LSD (GAD trials), ibogaine (arrhythmia risk, Mexico clinics), ayahuasca, peyote, and microdosing. They also note commercialization, including Eli Lilly’s acquisition of a 5-MeO-DMT nasal spray developer, and emphasize an integrative “all-of-the-above” mental health approach.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, co-authors of “Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life.”

Science is conquering diseases—now breakthroughs in gene editing promise to vanquish aging itself; The healing potential of hydrogen; Attending concerts, museums and movies may help keep your body younger; Dr. Jeffrey Bland dishes on the benefits of a new full-spectrum fish oil, Omega-3 Rejuvenate.

This week’s supplement spotlight—spermidine; American Heart Association does a 180° on coffee; How accurate are health tracker wearables for sleep, blood pressure, heart rate? A skin disorder practically no one has heard of is often confused for skin cancer; Vitamin D—what forms and what dosages are optimal? Popular sugar substitutes may be worse for the brain than natural sugar.

What Triggers Age-Related Belly Fat? New Stem Cell Findings and a Nutrition Perspective: Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses research from City of Hope (published in Science) on why belly fat increases with age even without major weight gain, emphasizing the health risks of visceral fat as an endocrine organ linked to inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, and accelerated aging. The study suggests aging activates adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) and produces an age-specific stem cell population called committed preadipocytes (CP-As) that generate new fat cells, with experiments showing older APCs create more fat cells even when transplanted into young mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified greater CP-A activity in middle-aged mice and similar cells in higher numbers in middle-aged human tissue. Researchers implicate the LIFR signaling pathway and propose future therapies to block these cells, while Leyla questions root causes and argues metabolic dysfunction—insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, high carbohydrate intake, and sedentary behavior—should be addressed nutritionally rather than via a pill.