Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease

Chonglei Fu; Xuehui Li; Xiaoxing Liu; Yongbo Zheng; Xiangxian Ma; Bo Zhang; Si Chen; Lingming Hu; Sizhen Su; Xiaokun Wang; Jie Sun; Qingqing Yin; Yumei Wang; Xiaolong Fu; Yanping Bao; Yanxue Xue; Tao Xin; Lin Lu; Guichang Zou

doi:10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1

Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease

Chonglei Fu
, Xuehui Li
, Xiaoxing Liu
, Yongbo Zheng
, Xiangxian Ma
, Bo Zhang
, Si Chen
, Lingming Hu
, Sizhen Su
, Xiaokun Wang
, Jie Sun
, Qingqing Yin
, Yumei Wang
, Xiaolong Fu
, Yanping Bao
, Yanxue Xue
, Tao Xin
, Lin Lu^*
, Guichang Zou^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health systems. Despite extensive research, effective treatments to stop neurodegeneration or promote neuronal regeneration in AD remain elusive. Psychoactive substances as modulators of neurophysiological functions, have received increased attention in research. The main psychoactive agents, such as central nervous system depressants and stimulants, cannabinoids, psychedelics, opioids and ketamine, are being explored for their abilities to enhance learning and cognitive performance and potential neurorestorative functions. In this paper, we review the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of psychoactive substances in AD, in the aim to guide future research directions.

Original language	English
Article number	38
Journal	Translational Neurodegeneration
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Alzheimer's disease
Challenges
Molecular insights
Psychoactive substances
Therapeutic potential

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10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1

Cite this

Fu, C., Li, X., Liu, X., Zheng, Y., Ma, X., Zhang, B., Chen, S., Hu, L., Su, S., Wang, X., Sun, J., Yin, Q., Wang, Y., Fu, X., Bao, Y., Xue, Y., Xin, T., Lu, L., & Zou, G. (2025). Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease. Translational Neurodegeneration, 14(1), Article 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1

@article{56bfda9acf0d415bbab6bc1377fc69ef,

title = "Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease",

abstract = "Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health systems. Despite extensive research, effective treatments to stop neurodegeneration or promote neuronal regeneration in AD remain elusive. Psychoactive substances as modulators of neurophysiological functions, have received increased attention in research. The main psychoactive agents, such as central nervous system depressants and stimulants, cannabinoids, psychedelics, opioids and ketamine, are being explored for their abilities to enhance learning and cognitive performance and potential neurorestorative functions. In this paper, we review the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of psychoactive substances in AD, in the aim to guide future research directions.",

keywords = "Alzheimer's disease, Challenges, Molecular insights, Psychoactive substances, Therapeutic potential",

author = "Chonglei Fu and Xuehui Li and Xiaoxing Liu and Yongbo Zheng and Xiangxian Ma and Bo Zhang and Si Chen and Lingming Hu and Sizhen Su and Xiaokun Wang and Jie Sun and Qingqing Yin and Yumei Wang and Xiaolong Fu and Yanping Bao and Yanxue Xue and Tao Xin and Lin Lu and Guichang Zou",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Translational Neurodegeneration",

issn = "2047-9158",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Psychoactive substances

T2 - novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease

AU - Fu, Chonglei

AU - Li, Xuehui

AU - Liu, Xiaoxing

AU - Zheng, Yongbo

AU - Ma, Xiangxian

AU - Zhang, Bo

AU - Chen, Si

AU - Hu, Lingming

AU - Su, Sizhen

AU - Wang, Xiaokun

AU - Sun, Jie

AU - Yin, Qingqing

AU - Wang, Yumei

AU - Fu, Xiaolong

AU - Bao, Yanping

AU - Xue, Yanxue

AU - Xin, Tao

AU - Lu, Lin

AU - Zou, Guichang

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health systems. Despite extensive research, effective treatments to stop neurodegeneration or promote neuronal regeneration in AD remain elusive. Psychoactive substances as modulators of neurophysiological functions, have received increased attention in research. The main psychoactive agents, such as central nervous system depressants and stimulants, cannabinoids, psychedelics, opioids and ketamine, are being explored for their abilities to enhance learning and cognitive performance and potential neurorestorative functions. In this paper, we review the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of psychoactive substances in AD, in the aim to guide future research directions.

AB - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe cognitive decline and poses a significant burden on global health systems. Despite extensive research, effective treatments to stop neurodegeneration or promote neuronal regeneration in AD remain elusive. Psychoactive substances as modulators of neurophysiological functions, have received increased attention in research. The main psychoactive agents, such as central nervous system depressants and stimulants, cannabinoids, psychedelics, opioids and ketamine, are being explored for their abilities to enhance learning and cognitive performance and potential neurorestorative functions. In this paper, we review the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of psychoactive substances in AD, in the aim to guide future research directions.

KW - Alzheimer's disease

KW - Challenges

KW - Molecular insights

KW - Psychoactive substances

KW - Therapeutic potential

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011695369

U2 - 10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1

DO - 10.1186/s40035-025-00498-1

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105011695369

SN - 2047-9158

VL - 14

JO - Translational Neurodegeneration

JF - Translational Neurodegeneration

IS - 1

M1 - 38

ER -

Psychoactive substances: novel molecular insights and therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Keywords

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