Molecule Reduces Stroke Damage in Breakthrough Study from Szeged

A naturally occurring molecule also found in the human brain — dimethyltryptamine (DMT) — has been shown to reduce the harmful effects of stroke in animal models and cell cultures, confirms a joint study by researchers at the HUN-REN Szeged Biological Research Center and Semmelweis University’s Városmajor Heart and Vascular Center. Their findings were published in the prestigious journal Science Advances.

The results mark a significant step forward in stroke research, as current treatment options for stroke remain limited. Researchers found that DMT offers a dual mechanism of action: it protects the blood-brain barrier and reduces inflammation in the brain, suggesting that it could complement existing therapies or form the basis of new, more comprehensive treatments.

From left to right: Anna Kocsis, Zsófia Hoyk, Mária Deli, Fruzsina Walter, and Judit Vigh — co-authors from the Biological Barriers Research Group at the Institute of Biophysics, HUN-REN Szeged Biological Research Center. Photo: hun-ren.hu

DMT is a psychoactive compound naturally present in the human brain and is already the subject of ongoing international clinical trials for other neurological and psychiatric conditions. The Hungarian team, led by Mária Deli, Zoltán Nagy, and Sándor Nardai, contributed to a deeper understanding of how DMT works at the molecular level in the context of stroke.

In preclinical studies, researchers László Marcell and Judit Vigh — first authors of the paper — observed that DMT treatment significantly reduced the volume of brain infarction and the formation of cerebral edema. Importantly, DMT restored both the structure and function of the damaged blood-brain barrier in animal and cellular models, while also improving the activity of astroglial cells, which play a key support role in the brain.

The compound was also found to inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines in both brain endothelial cells and peripheral immune cells via activation of the Sigma-1 receptor. In addition, it reduced the activation of microglial cells — immune cells in the brain that contribute to inflammation following a stroke.

Despite these promising findings, researchers caution that the road to clinical application is still long. While clinical trials involving DMT are already underway abroad, further investigation is needed, particularly regarding the molecule’s long-term effects.

The study reflects a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic and neuroactive compounds in mainstream medicine, especially in treating conditions like stroke, where innovation is urgently needed.

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