When most people hear about DMT, or dimethyltryptamine, they think of its reputation as a powerful psychedelic, sometimes described as producing dreamlike or mystical experiences. But recent research suggests that this natural molecule may be far more than a fleeting journey into altered consciousness. It could, in fact, hold the key to protecting the brain in one of the most devastating medical emergencies: stroke.
In a groundbreaking study published in Science Advances, scientists from Hungary’s HUN-REN BRC Institute of Biophysics and the Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center revealed that DMT can significantly reduce brain damage caused by stroke. Their findings mark an important turning point, not only in neuroscience but in our broader understanding of how compounds found in nature can unlock unexpected therapeutic possibilities.
A Natural Molecule in the Human Brain
DMT is not some foreign chemical manufactured in a lab. It occurs naturally in many plants and in mammals, including humans. Evidence shows that the human brain itself produces DMT, though its precise role in consciousness and brain function has long remained a mystery. For decades, scientists debated whether its presence was just a curious byproduct of metabolism or if it had a more essential biological purpose.
Now, clinical trials are underway to test DMT’s ability to help stroke patients regain brain function. The Hungarian research team’s discoveries may finally provide the missing explanation for how this molecule works at the cellular and molecular level.
Protecting the Brain from Stroke Damage
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to the death of millions of neurons within minutes, causing long-term disability or even death. Current treatments, such as clot-busting drugs and mechanical interventions, are effective in some cases but are highly time-sensitive and don’t always ensure full recovery.
This is where DMT offers new hope. In animal models of stroke, researchers observed that DMT treatment reduced both the volume of brain tissue death (infarct volume) and swelling (edema). More importantly, it repaired one of the brain’s most vital defense systems: the blood-brain barrier. This thin layer of cells shields the brain from toxins and pathogens, but during a stroke, it often becomes leaky and fragile, worsening damage.
“DMT significantly restored the structure and function of the blood-brain barrier,” explains Marcell László, one of the study’s first authors. It also supported astroglial cells—star-shaped brain cells that provide structural and metabolic support to neurons—helping them regain their function after injury.
Reducing Inflammation, Enhancing Recovery
Another striking discovery was DMT’s ability to dampen inflammation in the brain. During and after a stroke, inflammatory processes can spiral out of control, killing healthy brain cells and interfering with healing. The Hungarian team showed that DMT reduced the activity of microglia, the brain’s immune cells, and inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines—chemical messengers that can trigger damaging immune responses.
This dual action, both repairing the blood-brain barrier and reducing inflammation, positions DMT as a unique therapeutic candidate. “The therapeutic options currently available for stroke are very limited,” notes co-first author Judit Vigh. “The dual action of DMT offers a novel, complex approach that could complement existing treatments.”
Nature as a Source of Medicine
The idea that a psychedelic molecule could protect the brain may seem surprising, but history has repeatedly shown that nature often holds ingenious solutions to human health problems. Aspirin was derived from willow bark, penicillin from mold, and countless modern drugs from plants and fungi. DMT, once considered only in the context of altered states of consciousness, may soon join this list of natural compounds repurposed for life-saving therapies.
“It is amazing how we can always turn to nature to find ingenious solutions for health problems,” says co-lead author Mária Deli. This perspective underscores a broader truth: sometimes the most extraordinary medical breakthroughs emerge from unexpected sources.
A Future Beyond Conventional Stroke Therapies
For stroke survivors, every minute matters. Yet even when treated quickly, many patients face incomplete recovery, struggling with lasting physical, cognitive, or emotional impairments. By adding DMT to the toolbox of stroke therapies, doctors may be able to move beyond the limitations of current approaches.
While clinical trials are still ongoing, the Hungarian team’s findings provide strong evidence that DMT could one day be used alongside existing treatments, helping patients heal more fully. If confirmed in humans, it could represent one of the most significant advancements in stroke medicine in decades.
The Road Ahead
There is still much to learn. Researchers must determine the safest and most effective ways to administer DMT, understand its long-term effects, and explore how it interacts with other stroke treatments. But with every experiment, hope grows stronger.
DMT’s story is more than a tale of molecules and mechanisms. It is a story of human curiosity, of scientists daring to look beyond stigma and preconceptions to discover new truths. It is a reminder that our brains, our bodies, and the natural world are deeply interconnected—and that within that connection lie untapped possibilities for healing.
As clinical trials continue, one thing is clear: DMT has moved from the realm of mystery into the frontier of medicine. And for countless patients facing the devastating effects of stroke, it represents not just another therapy, but a chance at renewed life and restored hope.
More information: Marcell J. László et al, N,N-dimethyltryptamine mitigates experimental stroke by stabilizing the blood-brain barrier and reducing neuroinflammation, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx5958
