Keep your mind sharp by doing something mentally stimulating every day they say. However, although doing a crossword puzzle may help for some, not everyone will be that fortunate. A third of people age 85 or older develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This condition is characterized by the death of neurons in the forebrain, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex, causing a loss of neuroplasticity (the ability to adapt to experiences).
For sure, factors that we can control such as cognitively stimulating activities, physical activity, and a healthy diet can be helpful in staving off cognitive decline, but in some cases they are not enough. Luckily for us, researchers are rediscovering the ancient power of medicinal mushrooms, confirming what our ancestors already knew –
To combat disease and illness nature offers the healthiest medicine.
Hericium erinaceus , called lion’s mane because of its distinctive appearance, has been extensively studied in this regard, and has been widely reported to have therapeutic activities related to the promotion of nerve and brain health.
Curious to know what the unique benefits of this medicine mushroom that have been revealed are, and how they may benefit you?
The benefits
Well most importantly lion’s mane is known as nootropic which means simply that it is a cognitive enhancer and can help improve thinking, learning and memory. Bet that got your attention. I’m guessing none of us would say no to a little cognitive enhancement. But how does this “shroom” achieve this?
Lion’s mane contains potent natural substances known as erinacines and hericinanes, which are not found in any other fungus or plant. Researchers found that these constituents of lion’s mane were capable of stimulating neuron growth in cells isolated from the brain, spinal cord, and retina. By promoting nerve growth factor (NGF), essential for neural plasticity, lion’s mane may have a significant anti-aging effect.
Lion’s mane also increases the production of myelin, an insulating layer that forms around nerves and facilitates neurotransmission.
Some of the studies
Preliminary studies suggest that lion’s mane may even help reverse cognitive deficits in people with early Alzheimer’s disease.
In one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adults with mild cognitive impairment the men and women took four tablets three times daily for 16 weeks, with each tablet containing either placebo or 250 mg of lion’s mane dry powder. The group that received H. erinaceus showed significantly increased scores on a cognitive function scale compared with the placebo group. However, when subjects stopped taking H. erinaceus their scores began to fall, reflecting scores similar to those that were untreated, indicating the need for continued use.
In a long-term placebo-controlled trial, 41 patients diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease received three 350 mg capsules of lion’s mane daily or a placebo. Cognitive assessments, eye exams, and brain imaging by MRI were conducted throughout the 49-week study period. Brain imaging revealed that the patients who took lion’s mane had reduced structural deterioration in several brain regions, providing evidence that mushroom supplementation changed the brain architecture and reduced atrophy.
Mood enhancing properties of lion's mane
In addition to promoting nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, mushrooms contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that can influence mood. The following studies are among many that suggest that lion’s mane has significant effects on mood in humans.
A randomized, placebo-controlled study of 30 post-menopausal women found that after taking 2,000 mg of lion’s mane daily for four weeks, feelings of depression and anxiety were decreased compared to those taking a placebo.
In another study, 77 subjects affected by overweight or obesity who also had a mood and/or sleep disorder and/or were binge eating, were recruited for a placebo-controlled clinical trial. The volunteers consumed three lion’s mane capsules daily, with each capsule providing 400 mg of the mushroom mycelium and 100 mg of the fruiting body. Eight weeks of lion’s mane supplementation helped ameliorate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Conclusion
In sum, researchers believe that lion’s mane could be useful as a potent protective agent for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinsons. This amazing mushroom not only represents a promising adjuvant to conventional treatments for cognitive and neurological decline, but may even help extend human healthspan – the number of years during which we remain mentally and physically healthy. This is a welcome contrast to what people used to believe that the brain became fixed after a certain age. Now we have hope that the brain is capable of changing, growing and reorganizing with the help of medicinal mushrooms such as lion’s mane.