Increased cortical thickness and decreased brain age among special operations veterans with blast TBI after a magnesium-ibogaine protocol

TL;DR

A treatment combining magnesium and ibogaine was linked to brain structure improvements in veterans with blast-induced TBI, suggesting potential for neuroplastic recovery.

Contribution

This study is the first to show that magnesium-ibogaine therapy may reverse brain aging and enhance cortical thickness in blast TBI patients.

Findings

Cortical thickness increased in 11 brain regions after magnesium-ibogaine treatment.

Predicted brain age decreased by an average of 1.3 years at one month post-treatment.

Subcortical volume expanded in cerebellar, forebrain, and diencephalic regions following treatment.

Abstract

Ibogaine is a psychoactive alkaloid with therapeutic potential that may promote neuroplasticity. Its effects on human brain morphometry are unknown. Thirty Special Operations Forces veterans with prior blast-induced TBI participated in an observational study in which they received ibogaine co-administered with magnesium. Structural MRIs were collected at baseline (n = 25), initial post-treatment (n = 25), and 1-month post (n = 22). Longitudinal analyses assessed cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and predicted brain age (pBA), estimated from T1 scans. pBA was significantly reduced at 1 month relative to baseline (−1.3 years). Cortical thickness analysis revealed post-treatment increases in 11 regions. Subcortical analyses revealed significant volumetric expansion in 8 regions. Magnesium-ibogaine therapy was associated with increased cortical thickness, subcortical expansion, and reduced pBA at 1 month. Although T1s are sensitive to nonstructural changes, the overall direction of effect is consistent with neuroplastic change.

•Magnesium-ibogaine is associated with increased cortical thickness in veterans with blast TBI•Predicted brain age was reduced by a mean of ∼1.3 years at 1 month post-treatment•Subcortical volume expansion occurred in cerebellar, forebrain, and diencephalic regions•Findings compatible with increased structural neuroplasticity after magnesium-ibogaine

Magnesium-ibogaine is associated with increased cortical thickness in veterans with blast TBI

Predicted brain age was reduced by a mean of ∼1.3 years at 1 month post-treatment

Subcortical volume expansion occurred in cerebellar, forebrain, and diencephalic regions

Findings compatible with increased structural neuroplasticity after magnesium-ibogaine

Health sciences; Medicine; Medical specialty; Internal medicine; Neurology

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