Q&A: Alzheimer’s, Better Sleep, and Possible Tolerance Buildup

Question: My husband, still in early-stage Alzheimer’s, has been microdosing to great benefit...especially for deep sleep. The reasoning behind taking space between doses as presented did not seem relevant to my husband’s situation, since he will not recover from Alzheimer’s. He takes 50 mg right before sleeping. When he doesn’t dose, he has a more disturbed sleep and gets up and goes more often to the bathroom. I would be interested in your thoughts.

Response: That is valuable news for us about microdosing with early-stage Alzheimer's. While good research about high doses definitely shows tolerance developing, we have no research yet about daily microdosing as all the protocols include days off. I do recall, years ago, someone with extraordinarily difficult depression who microdosed daily for a month, and for that month felt wonderful and sane. He then ran out of his psychedelic supply, and, after a few weeks, he had returned back to his chronic depressed state.

Whatever my opinion might be, your husband’s experience is far and away the best evidence we have. If his daily dose stops being effective, a couple of days off and he should be able to start again.

If he tried taking a dose in the morning, he could still take a second dose in the evening for the improved sleep.

If he does take a dose in the daytime, letting us know about any changes you observe–beneficial or negative—will be valuable information for others. We are just beginning to understand the effects of microdoses on dementia and Alzheimer’s. In the book, we predict that these will be new major areas of use. The beneficial nature of taking it at night is similar to other people’s reports, but not on a daily basis or with your husband's diagnosis. Thank you.

—Jim Fadiman (11/17/24)