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Long-term ayahuasca use is associated with preserved global cognitive function and improved memory: a cross-sectional study with ritual users.
Fonseca, Arilton Martins; Dos Santos, Rafael Guimarães; de Medeiros, Lívia Soman; Veiga, Thiago André Moura; Cassas, Fernando; Bruniera, Carla Poleselli; Rossi, Giordano Novak; Bouso, José Carlos; Hallak, Jaime E Cecílio; Santos, Fabiana Pereira; Paranhos, Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara; Yonamine, Mauricio; Rodrigues, Eliana.
Affiliation
  • Fonseca AM; Centre for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Dos Santos RG; Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. banisteria@gmail.com.
  • de Medeiros LS; National Institute of Science and Technology, Translational Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. banisteria@gmail.com.
  • Veiga TAM; Laboratório de Química Bio-Orgânica Otto Richard Gottlieb (LaBiORG), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Cassas F; Laboratório de Química Bio-Orgânica Otto Richard Gottlieb (LaBiORG), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Bruniera CP; Laboratório de Química Bio-Orgânica Otto Richard Gottlieb (LaBiORG), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Rossi GN; Herbário da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (HUFSP), Campus Diadema (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Bouso JC; Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
  • Hallak JEC; Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
  • Santos FP; International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (ICEERS), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Paranhos BAPB; Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
  • Yonamine M; Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
  • Rodrigues E; National Institute of Science and Technology, Translational Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38780800
ABSTRACT
Although several studies have been conducted to elucidate the relationship between psychedelic consumption and cognition, few have focused on understanding the long-term use influence of these substances on these variables, especially in ritualistic contexts.  To verify the influence of ritualistic ayahuasca consumption on the cognition of experienced ayahuasca religious users (> 20 years) and beginners (< 3 years), which participated in rituals of the Centro Luz Divina (CLD), a Santo Daime church in Brazil. Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out in which 48 people participated divided into three groups (a) experienced ayahuasca users (n = 16), (b) beginner ayahuasca users (n = 16) and (c) control group (n = 16). All groups were matched by sex, age, and education and contained 8 women and 8 men. Cognition was assessed with the WASI (intelligence quotient), Digit Span (verbal working memory), Corsi Block-Tapping Task (visuospatial-related and working memory), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test (visual perception, immediate memory), and Wisconsin Card Sorting and Five Digit Test (executive functions). Groups were homogenous in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, with participants presenting average intellectual performance. There was no evidence of cognitive decline amongst ayahuasca users. The experienced group showed higher scores compared to the less experienced group in the Digit Span and Corsi Block-Tapping tasks, which assess working verbal and visuospatial memories respectively. We confirmed the botanical identities of Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi and the presence of the alkaloids both in the plants and in the brew. Short and long-term ayahuasca consumption does not seem to alter human cognition, while long-term use seems to be associated with improvements in aspects of working memory when compared with short-term use.
Key words

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Year: 2024 Document type: Article

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Year: 2024 Document type: Article