Lion's Mane Mushrooms - Can They Help Your Brain?
August 3, 2025
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15:45Now PlayingLion's Mane Mushrooms - Can They Help Your Brain?
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Japanese monks have been consuming lion's mane mushroom for centuries to improve their focus and clarity of thought during long meditations. In the past few years, increasing numbers of individuals have been consuming a variety of lion's mane mushrooms - fresh, dried, or in extracts, for improving brain function, boosting mood, fighting cancer, and improving gastro-intestinal health.
Extensive laboratory research supports that molecules in the mushrooms can reduce oxidative stress, boost mitochondrial function, reduce inflammation, promote nerve cell growth, and protect nerve cells.
However, the human research on brain effects of lion's mane, as of mid 2025 is incredibly weak - just two studies on depression, two on early dementia, and one looking at cognitive function in healthy elderly adults. A total of barely 200 individuals were studied in these five studies, and on many of the measures, the placebo and lion's mane groups didn't differ. Altogether, they provide some support for the claim that lion's mane can reduce depression and anxiety, improve sleep, and slow cognitive decline, but much more research should be done to confirm these findings, given how many people are already consuming lion's mane.
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References:
Neurotrophic and Neuroprotective Effects of Hericium erinaceus (2023)
Prevention of Early Alzheimer’s Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study (2020)
Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus (2019)
Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers? (2019)
Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake (2010)
Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial (2008)
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Psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author John Kruse, MD, PhD presents practical, actionable, well-researched information about treatment options that scientists and clinicians recommend for adult ADHD and other mental health conditions.
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