A New Frontier in Sleep Research: Microdosing's Unexpected Benefits.

Modern medicine continues to push boundaries and question established norms, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the resurgence of interest in psychedelic substances.

Led by a growing body of research, we're seeing a shift in how these substances are perceived and their potential therapeutic benefits. One such area of study is the practice of 'microdosing'—consuming small, sub-hallucinogenic amounts of drugs like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms.

Microdosers claim an array of benefits, from heightened creativity to improved mental well-being, but what about sleep?

According to a groundbreaking Phase 1 clinical trial conducted by MindBio Therapeutics, microdosing LSD might just be the key to a longer, more restful night's sleep.

The Microdosing Revolution and Sleep: Unchartered Territory

One area that has remained largely unexplored until recently is the impact of microdosing on sleep. The relationship between sleep and our mental wellbeing is well established, but could LSD microdosing provide the extra push for a more restful night's sleep?

According to a recent Phase 1 randomised controlled trial, the answer might be a resounding 'yes'.

MindBio Therapeutics embarked on a landmark Phase 1 randomised controlled trial involving 80 healthy adult male volunteers. Over a course of six weeks, these participants received either an LSD microdose of 10 μg or a placebo every third day. Commercially available sleep/activity trackers were used throughout the trial, offering an objective lens into the participants' sleeping habits and physical activity levels.

The Findings: An Extra 24 Minutes of Sleep

The results were illuminating. Participants in the LSD group slept an extra 24.3 minutes the following night after taking a microdose compared to the placebo group. This increase in sleep time may seem marginal to some, but in the realm of sleep research, it is considered significant. As per a study by Singh et al., 2020, a mere 20-minute increase in sleep can have a profound impact on sleep quality and, subsequently, overall health.

Furthermore, this extended slumber did not disrupt participants' physical activity levels, nor did it significantly alter the ratio of time spent in each sleep stage, which includes deep, light, REM (Rapid Eye Movement), and awake stages.

Interestingly, these benefits were only noted the night after microdosing. The night of the dose itself saw no changes in sleep duration. This is a crucial detail that might inform future microdosing protocols, emphasising the importance of an "off" day for rest between doses.

Another intriguing finding was that participants in the LSD group went to bed approximately 25.17 minutes earlier the night after microdosing. However, there were no significant shifts in their wake-up times. This indicates that microdosing LSD not only extends sleep duration but also encourages an earlier transition to sleep.

Understanding Sleep: REM, Deep, and Light Sleep

Sleep is a complex process that involves several stages, each with a unique role in our health and well-being:

Light Sleep: This is the stage between wakefulness and sleep. Your heart rate and breathing slow, and your muscles relax.

Deep Sleep: This stage is crucial for physical restoration. It's when tissue growth and repair occur, and energy is restored. Additionally, important hormones are released for growth and development.

REM Sleep: Most dreaming occurs during REM sleep. This stage is vital for memory consolidation and learning.

An optimal balance of these sleep stages is essential for good quality sleep. While this study found that LSD microdosing didn't significantly alter the distribution of these stages, it's worth noting that participants did experience an extra 8.13 minutes of REM sleep, a critical stage for memory and mood regulation.

Implications for Mental Health Conditions and Future Directions

These promising results could open new therapeutic avenues for mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, where sleep disturbances are common. A multitude of studies confirms the close relationship between sleep and mental health. Enhanced sleep duration and quality could mitigate symptoms of mental health disorders, and inversely, effective management of these disorders could lead to improved sleep.

Depression: One of the most common mental health disorders, depression, is often linked to sleep problems. In many cases, insomnia can be a precursor to depressive episodes. The REM sleep stage, crucial for mood regulation, is often disrupted in people with depression, leading to a poorer quality of sleep. By increasing the overall sleep duration and adding approximately 8.13 minutes to REM sleep, as observed in the MindBio Therapeutics trial, LSD microdosing could potentially provide a novel method for mitigating depressive symptoms.

Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety disorders can lead to disrupted sleep and even insomnia. Anxious individuals often find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, and the sleep they do get can be restless and less fresh. Again, the sleep-enhancing effects of LSD microdosing could potentially offer a beneficial approach to managing anxiety symptoms by promoting better sleep health.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is another mental health condition that disrupts sleep, with nightmares and night terrors as common symptoms. While further research is needed, the potential benefits of LSD microdosing for improving sleep quality and duration might also have implications for treating PTSD symptoms.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Many individuals with ADHD struggle with sleep disorders, which can exacerbate symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. By improving sleep duration and potentially the quality of sleep, LSD microdosing might contribute to better management of ADHD symptoms.

Aside from these specific mental health disorders, improved sleep is also essential for overall mental well-being. A good night's sleep can enhance cognitive abilities such as memory and focus, promote emotional stability, and even boost creativity. In this light, the potential for LSD microdosing to increase sleep duration may have broader implications for general mental health.

Given the changes observed in sleep, there's a compelling argument for incorporating wearable devices for sleep monitoring in future trials. MindBio Therapeutics plans to use these insights in its upcoming Phase 2 trials of LSD microdosing in patients with major depressive disorder.

The Promise of Microdosing

The exciting world of psychedelic microdosing is showing early signs of profound potential benefits. The pioneering work of MindBio Therapeutics, for instance, has shone a light on the unexplored area of microdosing and sleep, revealing intriguing findings with significant clinical implications.

The extra sleep garnered by microdosing LSD could be a game-changer, not just for individuals seeking better rest, but for broader therapeutic applications, especially concerning mental health.

More research is needed, and with companies like MindBio Therapeutics at the helm, we can look forward to further revelations from this fascinating frontier of medicine.

This trial's findings offer a tantalising glimpse into the possible future of sleep enhancement and overall well-being. Who knows what other mysteries we may unravel as we delve deeper into the realms of LSD and sleep? As the world of science expands its horizons, it's clear that the potential of LSD microdosing is just beginning to unfold.