Help your brain with Lion's Mane
Functional mushrooms in brain disease prevention
5 minute read
Topics: Brain health. Brain nerve growth. Dementia. Alzheimers. Mental cognition and memory.
In headlines: TLDR
There aren’t yet cures for dementia such as Alzheimers but researchers have made recent breakthroughs
The benefits of functional mushrooms are emerging & publicly available
New research shows that we need to:
Reduce brain inflammation
Promote neurogenesis and nerve growth factor
Functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane have neuro-health properties to help us
Sleep, exercise, stress management, diet and socialising are essential too
Don’t take our word for it. The major findings we know of are included here…
Wikimedia Commons - Neurogenie
“It's never too early to start thinking about how to protect your brain”
Leader in Alzheimer's Disease Research, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital.
If a functioning brain is important to you, then this is worth your time.
Currently, most of the scientific and medical community is sticking to what has been said for years: there is no cure for dementia like Alzheimers and Parkinson’s.
However, there is good news. Studies are pointing to functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane, Hericium erinaceus, to help with degenerative brain diseases like dementia.
Given the prevalence of dementia, it is an active area of research (Alzheimers received the most attention).
To start, we cover some basics. If the detail is too much, then know that there is encouraging evidence for Lion's Mane in brain health.
For those concerned about dementia, there is plenty of information here.
What is brain degeneration?
"De-generative brain diseases are caused by the decline and death of nerve cells, called neurons.
These diseases are progressive, meaning that the condition worsens over time as … neurons in the brain die. As the brain gradually deteriorates, the patient loses intellectual function in key areas like speech, memory and spatial skills" [1].
“Degenerative brain diseases have an enormous impact on our aging society. Alzheimer's disease progressively robs its victims of their memory.
Parkinson's disease leads to impairments in movement. Frontotemporal dementia causes bewildering changes in a person's thoughts and behaviour. Huntington's disease painstakingly deprives a person of their ability to walk, talk, think and reason, often as early as in their mid 30s and 40s” [2].
Demystifying dementia: new findings
Mystery has surrounded dementia for years. Sleep, stress management, diet, socialising and exercise [23] have been promoted for some time but now leaders in scientific research offer important news:
When it comes to dementia we also need to:
Reduce brain inflammation [4, 5, 6]
Promote neurogenesis & nerve growth factor [7, 8, 9, 10]
What is neurogenesis?
”Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. Neurogenesis… continues in certain brain regions after birth and throughout our lifespan” [3].
This is crucial since Alzheimer’s kills off our brain neurons and then we lose cognitive ability.
Professor in Neurology, Dr Rudy Tanzi, reported in 2019 that neurogenesis (brain nerve growth) is needed in combatting Alzheimers, although alone it’s insufficient. The brain also has to be a healthy environment so new neurons can survive [10].
Can Lion's Mane mushroom help?
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus): an edible mushroom native to North America, Europe and Asia
We’re learning that Lion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) has brain health benefits. There are several papers that show its potential and links are available below [11-22].
In case you’re wondering, the active compounds in Lion's Mane are hericerins, erinacines, erinaceolactones, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides (which include beta-glucans).
1. Lion's Mane: anti-inflammatory
In 2015 Critical Reviews in Biotechnology published a paper about Lion's Mane’s anti-neural-inflammatory effects and its ability to reduce neurotoxicity [11]. This anti-inflammatory effect has been found in other studies too [12-14].
“The reported medicinal effects of mushrooms include anti-inflammatory effects, with anti-inflammatory compounds of mushrooms comprising a highly diversified group in terms of their chemical structure. They include polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and many other low molecular weight molecules [15]”.
2. Lion's Mane: neurogenesis and nerve growth factor
Sources like Behavioural Neurology, International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms and others testify to Lion's Mane’s ability to stimulate brain neuron growth.
“Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane)… has become a well-established candidate in promoting positive brain and nerve health-related activities, by inducing the nerve growth factor from its bioactive ingredient” [16].
“Neurotrophic factors are important in promoting the growth and differentiation of neurons…. Hericium erinaceus can induce NGF (nerve growth factor) synthesis in nerve cells” [17].
3. Lion's Mane: dementia research
Moreover, studies are showing that Lion's Mane is likely to help with dementia. Certainly, more research is required but supportive evidence is stacking up:
In a small clinical trial in Japan (double-blind placebo-controlled), Lion's Mane “showed significantly increased scores on the cognitive function scale compared with the placebo group” [19]. However, the study showed that benefits ceased when people stopped taking Lion's Mane.
A 2016 study from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences concludes, “Our findings provide experimental evidence that Hericium erinaceus may provide neuroprotective candidates for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases” [20].
“Our cross-sectional data support the potential role of mushrooms and their bioactive compounds in delaying neurodegeneration” [21]. This 2019 study in Singapore examined the association between mushroom intake and mild cognitive impairment. 663 people, aged 60+ with mild cognitive impairment participated.
Finally, a 2020 clinical pilot trial including patients with mild Alzheimer’s Disease were given a formulation of Lion's Mane extract. Those who received the treatment showed a significant improvement in Mini-Mental State Examination score [22].
Credit: Dusty Yao-Stamets
This research supports what expert mycologist Paul Stamets sums up in relation to Lion’s Mane [24]:
“It’s the number 1 thing that people can do, in my mind, to not only preserve cognitive function but to expand it.”
Brain benefits now
With high quality Lion's Mane you’ll also notice benefits soon after starting. As we’ve covered, Lion's Mane stimulates neurons in the brain and this improves ability to process stimuli and information. You’re likely to feel less anxious, more focused and able to concentrate.
The list goes on
Brain health is a concern for many of us, but Lion's Mane has other benefits too. In other posts we’ll look at how it helps the gut system, micro biome and immunity. We’ll also cover studies on tumours and cancerous cells.
Final tweet
If thinking and brain health are important to you, then consider taking a quality Lion's Mane mushroom product. The advantages are shown to be promising. It is completely natural and organic options are available.
This is it
Moksha
Safety: Functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane are considered to be very safe, even in high quantities. However, if you have a mushroom allergy or auto-immune problems then you should seek advice from a medical practitioner.
Not all mushroom extracts are equal: Always look for high quality products. Consider Lion's Mane made with fruiting body, Beta-glucan polysaccharides of 20-30% and mycelium-rich compounds. Beware high levels of fillers, starches and grains. While not harmful they are less beneficial.
Dosage: Generally, the recommended dosage is a minimum of 1g per day. A qualified practitioner will be able to advise on dosage for your circumstances. Everyday consumption is suggested as benefits are shown to correlate with regular consumption.
Disclaimer: The findings here are for your information but aren’t intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified medical practitioner for advice. Please remember: do not eat mushrooms unless you know they are safe to consume.
Sources
Degenerative Brain Diseases, Lehigh Valley Health Network
The Degenerating Brain, University of Cambridge Neuroscience
What is Neurogenesis? University Queensland Brain Institute
Chronic Inflammation Linked to Dementia, alzheimers.net
Huzar T. 2020. Targeting Early Brain Inflammation May Slow Down Alzheimer’s. Medical News Today.
Weintraub K, 2019. For Alzheimer’s Sufferers, Brain Inflammation Ignites a Neuron-Killing “Forest Fire, And it could also be the kindling sparking Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative maladies”. Scientific American.
What Happens to the Brain in Alzheimer's Disease? US National Institute on Aging.
Mackenzie D. 2019. We may finally know what causes Alzheimer’s – and how to stop it. New Scientist.
What is Alzheimers Disease? Alzheimers Association.
Choi SH, Bylykbashi E, Chatila ZK, Lee SW, Pulli B, Clemenson GD, Kim E, Rompala A, Oram MK, Asselin C, Aronson J, Zhang C, Miller SJ, Lesinski A, Chen JW, Kim DY, van Praag H, Spiegelman BM, Gage FH and Tanzi RE. 2019. Induced Adult Neurogenesis plus BDNF Mimicks the Effects of Exercise on Cognition in an Alzheimer’s Mouse Model. HHS Author Manuscript
Phan CW, David P, Naidu M, Wong KH, Sabaratnam V. 2015. Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology
Mori K, Ouchi K, Hirasawa N. 2015. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lion's Mane. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms.
Qin M, Geng Y, Lu Z, Xu H, Shi J-S, Xu X, Xu Z-H. 2016. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract of Lion's Mane. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms.
Kushairi N, Phan CW, Sabaratnam V, David P, Naidu M. 2019. Lion's Mane Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. Suppresses H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage and LPS-Induced Inflammation in HT22 Hippocampal Neurons and BV2 Microglia. National Library of Medicine
Elsayed EA, Enshasy HE, Wadaan MAM, Aziz R. 2014. Mushrooms: a potential natural source of anti-inflammatory compounds for medical applications. Mediators of Inflammation.
Li I, Lee L, Tzeng T, Chen W, Chen Y, Shiao Y and Chen C. 2018. Neurohealth Properties of Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines. Behavioural Neurology.
Lai P, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, Wong KH, David RP, Kuppusamy UR, Abdullah N, Sri Malek NA. 2013:15 Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia.. International Journal of Medical Mushrooms
Martínez-Mármol R, Chai YJ, Khan Z, Beom Kim S, Min Hong S, Gormal RS, Hee Lee D, Kang Lee J, Kyeong Lee M, Yeou Kim S, Meunier FA. 2020. Hericerin derivatives from Hericium erinaceus exert BDNF-like neurotrophic activity in central hippocampal neurons and enhance memory. BioRxiv
Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T. 2009. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Wiley.
Zhang J, An S, Hu W, Teng M, Wang X, Qu Y, Liu Y, Yuan Y, and Wang D. 2016. The Neuroprotective Properties of Hericium erinaceus in Glutamate-Damaged Differentiated PC12 Cells and an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Feng L, Kee-Mun Cheah I , Mei-Xi Ng M, Li J, Mei Chan S, Lin Lim S, Mahendran R, Kua E-H, Halliwell B. 2019. The Association between Mushroom Consumption and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Singapore. Journal of Alzheimers Disease.
Li I, Chang H, Lin C, Chen W, Lu T, Lee L, Chen Y, Chen Y, Chen C, Pei-Cheng Lin D. 2020. Prevention of Early Alzheimer’s Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Suzuki W. 2017. The brain-chain effects of exercise. TED.
Stamets P. 2017. Joe Rogan Experience, Episode 1035 at 49’ 50”.