iScienceMar 26, 2026

Thicker brain cortex and younger brain age in special forces veterans with blast injuries after magnesium-ibogaine treatment

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jun 27, 2026

Abstract

Essence

Magnesium-ibogaine treatment was associated with thicker cortex, larger subcortical volumes, and lower predicted brain age after blast TBI.

Evidence

This observational longitudinal MRI study followed 30 Special Operations Forces veterans with prior blast-induced TBI at baseline, post-treatment, and 1 month.

Caveat

Without a control group and with T1 scans sensitive to nonstructural change, the MRI shifts cannot prove neuroplastic remodeling.

Simplified

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 (= 25), initial post-treatment (= 25), and 1-month post (= 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. n n n