Neuroplasticity Enhancement From Cognitive Training Reinforced by Psilocybin (NECTAR) in Aging and Alzheimer s Disease

Neuroplasticity Enhancement From Cognitive Training Reinforced by Psilocybin (NECTAR) in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Background:

Normal aging, as well as dementias such as Alzheimer s disease, can cause changes in the brain that affect memory, attention, and thinking. Researchers want to know if regular mental tasks (cognitive training) can improve brain function in older adults. They also want to know if psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, can further support improved brain function.

Objective:

To learn how regular cognitive training, with or without psilocybin, can improve brain health in older adults.

Eligibility:

People aged 65 years and older with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer s disease. Healthy older adults with normal cognition are also needed.

Design:

Participants will be screened. They will have a test of their heart function and an imaging scan. They will have mental health screening and tests of their thinking and memory. They will practice brain-training tasks on a tablet.

Participants will be divided into 2 groups: 1 will have cognitive training plus psilocybin; 1 will have cognitive training only.

Those having cognitive training only will have 5 or 6 clinic visits. They will take the tablet home to practice brain training daily. They will wear a device to measure brain waves as they sleep; they may have 1 overnight stay in the clinic, or they may wear the device at home. Imaging scans and other tests will be repeated at each visit.

Those taking psilocybin will have up to 9 clinic visits. In addition to the visits for cognitive training, they will take 1 psilocybin capsule by mouth 2 weeks apart (the second dose is optional). They will remain in the clinic for 24 hours after each dose.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Cognitive Training; Drug: Psilocybin

Detailed Description

Study Description:

A randomized, open-label, parallel-group clinical trial with two arms aimed at evaluating whether psilocybin enhances the neuroplastic and cognitive benefits of cognitive training in two populations: older adults with normal cognition and individuals with early-stage Alzheimer s disease (AD). Participants in both populations will be randomized to receive either two oral doses of 25 mg of psilocybin, administered two weeks apart, plus cognitive training for four weeks or cognitive training alone for four weeks. The primary outcome will be the change from baseline in a novel Neuroplasticity Composite Score (NPCS) assessed four weeks after the first psilocybin session or the onset of cognitive training. Secondary outcomes include the assessment of safety and tolerability, cognitive performance on TabCAT, RBANS, and autobiographical memory; psychological well-being; quality of life; and sleep. Additional outcomes will include MRI/fMRI/MRS measures of neuroplasticity, brain network connectivity and neurochemistry; EEG during sleep; and plasma and plasma extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated biomarkers of synaptic integrity, serotonergic transmission, neurodegeneration, mitochondrial function, and inflammation. Screening will include clinical and cognitive assessments, assessment of suicidal ideation and behavior, biomarker confirmation of AD pathology, neuroimaging eligibility screening, and laboratory tests for metabolic, hepatic, and renal function. A urine drug screen will confirm the absence of illicit substances, and a urine pregnancy test will be required for female participants of childbearing potential. By simultaneously assessing cognitive and brain function and structure at multiple levels, this study will provide proof-ofconcept for psilocybin s potential to promote neuroplasticity, enhance cognition, improve emotional well-being, and mitigate neurodegenerative processes in aging and AD. Additionally, the inclusion of understudied geriatric populations will address critical gaps in psilocybin s safety and efficacy profile in older adults.

Objectives:

Primary Objective:

-Determine whether psilocybin enhances neuroplasticity four weeks after the first psilocybin session compared to cognitive training alone.

Secondary Objectives:

• Assess the safety and tolerability of psilocybin in cognitively healthy older adults and individuals with early-stage AD.
• Assess whether psilocybin enhances cognitive performance on TabCAT, RBANS and autobiographical memory, compared to cognitive training alone.
• Evaluate whether psilocybin enhances neuroplasticity-related changes on MRI, resting state fMRI, and MRS (i.e., changes in microanatomy, structural & functional connectivity, neurotransmitter levels) compared to cognitive training alone.
• Evaluate whether psilocybin enhances neuroplasticity-related changes on EEG during sleep (sleep architecture, spectral power) compared to cognitive training alone.
• Investigate whether psilocybin followed by cognitive training changes plasma and plasma EV-associated biomarkers, compared to cognitive training alone, focusing on synaptic, neurodegenerative, mitochondrial, and inflammatory markers.
• Characterize salivary stress-related biomarkers (e.g., cortisol and related hormones) and explore their association with acute psilocybin response and longer-term outcomes, and their longitudinal changes.
• Evaluate changes in psychological well-being (anxiety, depressive symptoms, trauma-related symptoms, alcohol craving/misuse, broader dimensions of well-being such as autonomy, purpose in life, personal growth); overall quality of life; and sleep with psilocybin followed by cognitive training compared to cognitive training alone.
• Assess differences between the first and second psilocybin session.

Endpoints:

Primary Endpoint:

-Change in NPCS four weeks after the first psilocybin session and initiation of cognitive training compared to cognitive training alone.

Secondary Endpoints:

• Safety & Tolerability: Incidence of adverse events.
• Change in NPCS, four days after the first psilocybin session and initiation of cognitive training, compared to cognitive training alone.
• Cognitive Outcomes: Change in TabCAT Brain Health Assessment (TabCAT-BHA) global composite score and individual task scores, RBANS total score, autobiographical memory performance (Reminiscence Functions Scale, Autobiographical Event Recall Test, DRM Paradigm), and performance in individual cognitive tests with psilocybin followed by cognitive training, in the short- (i.e., four days) and mid-term (i.e., four weeks), compared to cognitive training alone.
• Neuroimaging Outcomes: Changes in MRI, resting state fMRI, and MRS measures, including changes in microstructure and myelin and axonal integrity, BrainAGE, brain network connectivity, and neurotransmitter concentrations with psilocybin followed by cognitive training, compared to cognitive training alone.
• EEG Outcomes: Changes in sleep architecture and quantitative EEG spectral power with psilocybin and cognitive training, compared to cognitive training alone.
• Biomarkers: Changes in plasma and plasma EV-associated markers of synaptic function and neuroplasticity, neurodegeneration, mitochondrial function, and inflammation, with psilocybin and cognitive training, compared to cognitive training alone.
• Salivary Stress Biomarkers: Association of salivary cortisol and related hormones with acute psilocybin response and longer-term outcomes, and their longitudinal changes.
• Psychological and Quality of Life Outcomes: Changes in State- Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-State), Montgomery(SqrRoot) sberg Depression Rating Scale Self report (MADRS-S), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), National Institutes of Health-Healing Experience of All Life Stressors (NIH-HEALS), Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scales, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), Quality of Life in Alzheimer s Disease (QOL-AD) Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) with psilocybin followed by cognitive training, compared to cognitive training alone.
• Subjective Effects Questionnaires: Scores on the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30), Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-Challenge), Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI), and Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) following each psilocybin session.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sierra D Kunkosi; Phone Number: (410) 350-3941; Email: sierra.kunkoski@nih.gov
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Dimitrios I Kapogiannis, M.D.; Phone Number: (667) 391-0063; Email: kapogiannisd@mail.nih.gov

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
      • National Institute of Aging, Clinical Research Unit
      • Contact: Dimitrios Kapogiannis, M.D.; Phone Number: 667-391-0063; Email: kapogiannisd@mail.nih.gov

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Capacity to provide informed consent.
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
• Male or female, age >= 65 years old.
• Cognitive Status:
• Early-stage AD population: Meets the 2024 Alzheimer s Association Workgroup revised criteria for diagnosis and staging of AD (symptomatic cognitive impairment consistent with amnestic MCI or mild AD dementia) with a CDR score of 0.5-1(including 0.5 for the memory box) and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 20-25.5
• Cognitively normal population: No cognitive impairment based on clinical history and examination, with a CDR score of 0 and MoCA score >= 26.
• For participants with early-stage AD, evidence of underlying AD pathology by the currently only FDA-approved blood-based test, Lumipulse G p217-Tau/Abeta42 ratio >= 0.00738.123 Alternatively, participants who had previously underwent amyloid PET or CSF testing for diagnosis of AD (to qualify for treatment with anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies or for any other reason) may provide report of the amyloid PET scan or result of CSF analysis compatible with underlying AD pathophysiology; Lumipulse G p217- Tau/Abeta42 will still be measured to maintain consistency in study assessments, but values < 0.00738 will not disqualify them.
• Absence of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms, defined as a score of 0 on Delusions and Hallucinations items and a score <= 2 on Anxiety, Aggression, Irritability, and Disinhibition items of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q).
• Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine are permitted (alone or in combination) provided the dose(s) have been stable for (Bullet) 6 weeks prior to screening and are expected to remain stable through the psilocybin dosing period and primary outcome assessments, unless a change is medically necessary as determined by the prescribing clinician.
• Concurrent pharmacotherapy with a single selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) other than fluoxetine, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), tricyclic anti-depressant (TCA) or monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) is allowed only if the participant is willing and able to taper off this medication after Visit 1 (Screening) and have stayed off it for a washout period of at least 7 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 2 (Baseline) and at least 14 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 3 (for the Psilocybin + Cognitive Training group) or Visit 4 (for the Cognitive Training alone group). Bupropion (<= 300 mg/day) is permitted without taper or washout if the dose has been stable for >= 6 weeks before screening.
• Absence of active suicidal ideation with plan/intent and no suicidal behavior within the past 6 months, as defined by Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) of 0 or 1. Participants with passive ideation (severity 1) may be included only if risk is judged low, a safety plan is documented, and there is no suicidal behavior in the prior 6 months.
• For the early-stage AD population, participation of a study partner who is willing and able to serve as a medical history informant, accompany participants during visits, and provide psychological support following psilocybin sessions. For the cognitively normal population, participation of a study partner will be encouraged, but will not be mandated as eligibility criterion.
• Ability to take oral medication.
• Pregnancy prevention:
• Participants of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening and prior to psilocybin on Visits 3 and 7, and agree to use highly effective birth control beginning at least 14 days before any psilocybin dosing day and continuing through 30 days after the last psilocybin dose.
• Male participants with partners of childbearing potential must agree to use condoms and to ensure their partner uses a highly effective contraceptive method during the same window. Sperm donation is not permitted during the study and for 30 days after the last psilocybin dose.

Note: The Lumipulse G p217-Tau/Abeta42 plasma ratio (Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc) has received FDA clearance as the first blood-based biomarker to aid in the diagnosis of AD in symptomatic patients >= 50 years old. It is being used in both clinical practice and research trials as a biomarker of AD pathology. In this study, the Lumipulse G p217-Tau/Abeta42 ratio will serve as the eligibility biomarker for the early-stage AD group, with a cutoff value of >= 0.00738.123

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

-Medical history

--Neurological disorders (besides AD): Clinically significant brain disorders, either previously diagnosed or revealed through the screening exams or baseline neuroimaging, including:

• Stroke (except single asymptomatic old lacune)
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) within the past year, unless full work-up reveals no ongoing risk
• Extensive microvascular pathology or microbleeds
• Multiple sclerosis or related demyelinating disorders
• Parkinson s disease or related movement disorders (e.g., Multiple Systems Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy)
• Brain tumors
• History of meningitis or encephalitis
• History of moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale <= 12)
• Other dementias (e.g., vascular dementia, mixed neurodegenerative-vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, Huntington s disease, corticobasal degeneration)
• Epilepsy

Stable, mild neurological conditions (e.g., migraine, essential tremor, peripheral neuropathy) may be allowed at the discretion of the medically responsible investigator.

--Psychiatric disorders:

• Current or past moderate-to-severe mood disorders (e.g., treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder)
• History of psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder) unless psychosis was remote, short-lived, and directly attributable to medication misuse or overdose
• Suicidal ideation or behavior: Active suicidal ideation (C-SSRS severity 2-5) within the past 1 month or any suicidal behavior within the past 6 months; or current elevated acute risk in the opinion of the medically responsible investigator based on C-SSRS plus clinical interview.
• Severe PTSD, defined as a Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) score >= 4 in men or >= 3 in women
• Anxiety or personality disorders, if moderate to severe, as determined by the medically responsible investigator.

Mild depression and/or anxiety may be permitted if successfully treated with psychotherapy and/or single anti-depressant agent (i.e., SSRI, SNRI, TCA, MAOI or bupropion). However, given the potential for serotonergic antidepressants to blunt psilocybin s effect or increase risk124,125, participants taking a single SSRI, SNRI, TCA, or MAOI other than fluoxetine may still be eligible only if they are willing and able to taper off this medication after Visit 1 (Screening) and complete a washout period of at least 7 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 2 (Baseline) and at least 14 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 3 (for the Psilocybin + Cognitive Training group) or Visit 4 (for the Cognitive Training alone group). Tapering of eligible non-fluoxetine antidepressants will be treated as an eligibility criterion and will occur only when all of the following are true: (i) the participant wishes to proceed after discussion of risks/benefits, (ii) the prescribing clinician agrees tapering is reasonable and safe, and (iii) the medically responsible investigator agrees there is no elevated risk based on psychiatric history, current symptoms, and overall clinical picture. Discontinuation will not be abrupt. A written taper plan (dose-reduction schedule and monitoring plan) will be documented in coordination with the prescribing clinician, including a clear point of contact if symptoms worsen. During taper/washout, the study team will conduct scheduled weekly safety check-ins by phone focused on withdrawal/discontinuation symptoms, mood/anxiety worsening, sleep disruption, and suicidal ideation/behavior. If clinically significant symptom worsening or other safety concerns occur, the taper will be slowed, paused, or stopped, and clinical management will be redirected to the treating clinician; the participant may be excluded from further participation for safety reasons.

• Cardiovascular conditions:

  • Any history of coronary artery disease
  • Clinically significant electrocardiographic (EKG) abnormalities (e.g., atrial fibrillation/flutter, QTc > 450 ms, evidence of myocardial infarct history, highgrade conduction disease, or other rhythm/conduction abnormalities) as determined by the PI/medically responsible investigator. For EKG abnormalities other than QTc > 450 ms, clinical significance may be corroborated by transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE).
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 95 mmHg) confirmed after appropriate rest and repeated measurements: blood pressure will be measured in the seated position after >= 5 minutes of quiet rest, using an automated device and appropriate cuff size; three measurements will be obtained 1-2 minutes apart, and the average of them will be used for eligibility determination (a repeat set may be obtained after additional rest if initial readings are elevated).
  • Resting heart rate (HR) <= 55 bpm or > 100 bpm or clinically significant arrythmia: HR will be assessed concurrently with the blood pressure protocol above (seated after >= 5 minutes of rest), using the same repeated-measurement approach and corroborated by clinical assessment/EKG when indicated.
  • Clinically significant cardiomyopathy (e.g., hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive) or heart failure
  • Moderate to severe valvular heart disease (valvulopathy) or pulmonary hypertension

• Metabolic disorders:

  • Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Renal impairment (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m^2)
  • Liver function tests > 2x upper limit of normal

• Infectious & Hematologic Conditions:

  • Positive HIV, HBV, or HCV status
  • Anemia (HGB < 12 g/dL in men, < 11 g/dl in women)

• Poor venous access

  -Medications Exclusions

• Absolute

  • Typical & atypical antipsychotics
  • Multiple antidepressants medications (i.e., combinations of SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, TCAs and bupropion). Participants taking a single SSRI, SNRI, MAOI, or TCA may still be eligible, if they are willing and able to taper off this medication after Visit 1 (Screening) and have stayed off it for a washout period of at least 7 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 2 (Baseline) and at least 14 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 3 (for the psilocybin + cognitive training group). Participants currently taking fluoxetine will be excluded at screening because of the long half-life of fluoxetine and its active metabolite norfluoxetine.126 The study team will not direct fluoxetine tapering for the purpose of study participation. Participants taking fluoxetine will be advised to discuss with their own physician(s) whether they still need to be on fluoxetine and whether they could safely taper it and stay off it for some period of time. If they are willing to do that and their physician(s) decide to stop fluoxetine, they may come back and be re-screened for this study at a later time, after at least 4 weeks have passed since the last fluoxetine dose (they would also need to otherwise meet eligibility criteria). Bupropion (<= 300 mg/day) is permitted without taper or washout if the dose has been stable for >= 6 weeks before screening.

• Relative

  • Benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics (e.g., zolpidem, eszopiclone):

    • Regular use: participants must be willing and able to taper off and remain off for at least 14 +/- 2 days prior to Visit 3 (for the psilocybin + cognitive training group) or Visit 4 (for the cognitive training alone group), due to potential confounding effects on EEG recordings and sleep architecture and potential attenuation of the acute psilocybin experience. Because benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause clinically significant symptoms (and, rarely, seizures), tapering must be gradual. Discontinuation schedule will be directed by the medically responsible investigator in coordination with the prescribing clinician per participant wishes; participants with evidence of physiologic dependence or for whom safe tapering is not feasible within the study timeline will not be eligible for further study participation.
    • Intermittent PRN use: participants may be eligible if they can hold these medications for at least 72 hours prior to each psilocybin dosing session (for the psilocybin + cognitive training group) and avoid use during the overnight EEG recording window.
  • Sleep-inducing medications (e.g., trazodone, sedative-hypnotics) should not be taken for at least 14 +/- 2 days before Visit 3 (for the psilocybin + cognitive training group) or Visit 4 (for the cognitive training alone group) (due to potential confounding effects on EEG recordings and sleep architecture)
  • Melatonin (and similar over-the-counter sleep aids) should not be taken for at least 72 hours prior to Visit 3 (for the psilocybin + cognitive training group) or Visit 4 (for the cognitive training alone group), due to potential confounding effects on EEG recordings
  • Mood stabilizers (e.g., lithium), long-acting opioids (unless they are willing and able to taper off after Visit 1 (Screening) and have stayed off ...

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: early-stage Alzheimer's Disease (AD) population - cognitive training only; older adults with early-stage AD, 4 weeks of cognitive training alone	Other: Cognitive Training; daily for 4 weeks
Experimental: early-stage Alzheimer's Disease (AD) population - cognitive training plus psilocybin; older adults with early-stage AD, two oral doses of 25mg of psilocybin, administered two weeks apart, plus cognitive training for four weeks	Other: Cognitive Training; daily for 4 weeks; Drug: Psilocybin; 25 mg orally x 2 (2 weeks apart)
Active Comparator: Normal Cognition population - cognitive training only; Older adults with normal cognition, 4 weeks of cognitive training alone	Other: Cognitive Training; daily for 4 weeks
Experimental: Normal Cognition population - cognitive training plus psilocybin; Older adults with normal cognition, two oral doses of 25mg of psilocybin, administered two weeks apart, plus cognitive training for four weeks	Other: Cognitive Training; daily for 4 weeks; Drug: Psilocybin; 25 mg orally x 2 (2 weeks apart)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Determine whether psilocybin enhances neuroplasticity (Neuroplasticity Composite Score (NPCS))	two doses, 25 mg each, of psilocybin given two weeks apart plus 4 weeks of cognitive training vs. cognitive training alone.	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assess the safety and tolerability of psilocybin in cognitively healthy older adults and individuals with early-stage AD.	two doses, 25 mg each, of psilocybin given two weeks apart plus 4 weeks of cognitive training vs. cognitive training alone.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dimitrios I Kapogiannis, M.D., National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• Last Verified: July 7, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Aging; Cognitive Training; Psilocybin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Dementia; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Alzheimer Disease; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Therapeutics; Alkaloids; Indoles; Patient Care; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Indole Alkaloids; Indolizidines; Indolizines; Neurological Rehabilitation; Tryptamines; Psilocybin; Cognitive Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10002693; 002693-AG

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No