LSF/KCL partnership will foster understanding of the role of mental health in longevity and foster accessible approaches to new treatments.

The Longevity Science Foundation (LSF), an international nonprofit that seeks to fund cutting-edge longevity research, has partnered with top research university King’s College London to advance human longevity education and research. King’s College London (KCL) is the LSF’s first academic partner.

Ageing Research at King’s (ARK) is an educational consortium at KCL conducting industry-leading research in various areas including therapeutics, diagnostics and the social impact of aging. The LSF will join the ARK in spearheading a new body of research and educational efforts around aging, psychedelics and mental health treatments. This aligns closely with the LSF’s open funding call for projects exploring the synergies between these areas.

Longevity.Technology: Mental health is an instrumental component of human longevity, as it directly influences both brain health and physical well-being. Researchers believe better and more accessible approaches to mental health treatments, including new applications of psychedelics like psilocybin and cannabis, will contribute to a greater understanding of other aging-related diseases.

By understanding how these compounds impact the brain, researchers hope to unlock discoveries about neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Mental health, psychedelics and longevity are closely linked to other emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency, and the partnership plans to draw from these communities to advance research and raise awareness.

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), part of ARK, is ranked second in the world for psychology and psychiatry [1] and is a key global center for neuroscience research. The LSF will support strategic initiatives related to research on longevity and psychedelics at the Centre for Mental Health Research and Innovation, also part of the ARK network. The Centre is a new initiative at King’s in partnership with COMPASS Pathways, led by Dr James Rucker and Professor Allan Young, Head of Academic Psychiatry. COMPASS Pathways plc is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health.

An international team of researchers, physicians and visionaries established the Longevity Science Foundation in 2021. Since its establishment, the Foundation has put out two funding calls to support early-stage research on aging clocks and psychedelics for mental health treatments. Similarly, ARK contributes to national and international discussions on healthy longevity and its implications for society, healthcare and policymakers. The ARK has partnerships with several global stakeholders across longevity and ageing.

“Ageing Research at King’s College is one of the longevity industry’s foremost educational institutions,” Lisa E Ireland, president and CEO of the LSF, said. “We are honoured to support their groundbreaking work and establish an enriched body of knowledge around emerging treatments for mental health and other under-explored aspects of human longevity [2].”

“We are committed to changing the way society views mental health and longevity,” Dr Richard Siow, director of ARK, said. “By partnering with the LSF, we will work with their expert board and visionary community to ensure our research is actionable and promotes accessibility within the longevity field [2].”

Last month, LSF and ARK kicked off their new partnership with an event entitled “Adding Years to Our Lives and Life to Our Years”; the event highlighted the potential of psychedelic applications for mental health and longevity, and speakers included Lisa Ireland of the LSF, Professor Allan Young, Professor Dag Aarsland, Dr Guy Goodwin of COMPASS Pathways and Catherine Bird.

[1] https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/psychiatry-psychology
[2] https://longevity.foundation/tpost/k4za66sn81-kings-college-and-the-lsf-announce-partn