The brain's capacity to expand and create new connections normally decreases with aging, which may help to explain why many older persons experience worsening mental performance. Hericenones and erinacines, two unique substances found in lion's mane mushrooms, have been shown in studies to accelerate the formation of brain cells. Furthermore, research on animals suggests that lion's mane may offer defense against Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain condition that results in gradual memory loss. In reality, studies on mice have revealed that lion's mane mushrooms and their extracts diminish the signs of memory loss and protect neurons against amyloid-beta plaques, which build up in the brain during Alzheimer's disease.

Although no studies have looked at whether lion's mane mushrooms are helpful for treating Alzheimer's disease in people, they do seem to improve mental performance. Consuming 3 grams of powdered lion's mane mushroom daily for four months considerably enhanced mental functioning, according to research in older persons with mild cognitive impairment, but these advantages vanished after supplementation was discontinued. Some of the lion's mane mushroom's advantageous effects on brain health may be explained by its capacity to encourage neuron development and shield the brain from damage caused by Alzheimer's disease.

In affluent nations, up to one-third of the populace exhibits signs of anxiety and despair. While there are numerous factors that might contribute to anxiety and depression, chronic inflammation may be a significant one. Lion's mane mushroom extract has been shown in recent animal studies to have anti-inflammatory properties that help lessen the signs of anxiety and sadness in mice. Other animal studies have discovered that lion's mane extract can assist in brain cell regeneration and enhance the health of the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory and emotional processing.

The decreases in anxious and depressed behaviors observed in mice treated with these extracts are thought to be the result of better hippocampal function, according to researchers. Even if these animal trials show promise, there is not much human study. In tiny research, menopausal women who consumed lion's mane mushroom-infused cookies every day for the month reported feeling less irritated and anxious.

The brain, spinal cord, and other nerves that run throughout the body make up the nervous system. Together, these parts send and transmit signals that regulate practically all body functions. Brain or spinal cord injuries can have severe consequences. They can take a long time to heal and frequently result in paralysis or the loss of mental abilities. However, studies have indicated that lion's mane mushroom extract may hasten healing from these kinds of wounds by promoting nerve cell development and repair.

In fact, when administered to rats with nervous system injuries, lion's mane mushroom extract has been found to speed up healing by 23–41%. Additionally, lion's mane extract may lessen the degree of stroke-related brain damage. One study found that administering large dosages of lion's mane mushroom extract to rats right after a stroke could reduce inflammation and the amount of stroke-related brain damage by 44%. Although these findings are encouraging, it is unknown if a lion's mane would have the same healing effects on nervous system damage in people.

Anywhere in the digestive tract, including the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, is susceptible to the development of ulcers. H. pylori bacterial overgrowth and damage to the stomach's mucous layer, which is frequently brought on by long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, are the two main causes of stomach ulcers (NSAIDs). By preventing H. pylori growth and defending the stomach lining from harm, lion's mane extract may help prevent the onset of stomach ulcers.

In a number of investigations, it was shown that lion's mane extract can stop the development of H. pylori in a test tube. However, no research has examined if these findings apply to the stomach. Additionally, research on animals revealed that lion's mane extract prevented alcohol-induced stomach ulcers better than conventional acid-lowering medications – and without any unfavorable side effects. Additionally, lion's mane extract can prevent tissue damage and inflammation in other intestine-related locations. In fact, they could aid in the treatment of inflammatory bowel conditions including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Obesity, high triglycerides, huge quantities of oxidized cholesterol, and a higher propensity for blood clots are all significant risk factors for heart disease. According to research, lion's mane extract can have an impact on some of these variables and lower the risk of heart disease. Lion's mane mushroom extract has been shown in studies on rats and mice to enhance fat metabolism and reduce triglyceride levels.

One research found that after 28 days of receiving daily dosages of lion's mane extract together with a high-fat diet, triglyceride levels were reduced by 27% and weight gain was reduced by 42%. This is one way that lion's mane mushrooms support heart health because both obesity and high triglycerides are regarded as risk factors for heart disease. Additionally, research conducted in test tubes has revealed that lion's mane extract might lessen the risk of bloodstream oxidation of cholesterol. The tendency of oxidized cholesterol molecules is to adhere to the artery walls, hardening them and raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore, decreasing oxidation is good for the heart.

Diabetes is a condition that develops when the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels. Levels are thus persistently raised. Eventually, consequences including renal disease, nerve damage in the hands and feet, and eyesight loss are brought on by persistently high blood sugar levels. The lion's mane mushroom may help manage diabetes by lowering some of these negative effects and enhancing blood sugar control. Even at daily dosages as low as 2.7 mg per pound (6 mg per kg) of body weight, lion's mane can drastically decrease blood sugar levels in both normal and diabetic mice, according to a number of animal studies.

By inhibiting the action of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down carbohydrates in the small intestine, a lion's mane can reduce blood sugar levels. Lower blood sugar levels occur as a result of the body's inability to digest and absorb carbohydrates as efficiently when this enzyme is inhibited. Lion's mane extract may lessen diabetic nerve discomfort in the hands and feet in addition to reducing blood sugar levels. Six weeks of daily lion's mushroom extract greatly decreased pain, lowered blood sugar, and even boosted antioxidant levels in rats with diabetic nerve injury.

When DNA is damaged, uncontrolled cell division and replication result, which leads to cancer. According to certain studies, the lion's mane mushroom's special components may have the ability to fight cancer. In fact, lion's mane extract has been shown to accelerate the death of human cancer cells when combined with the cells in a test tube. This has been proven with a variety of cancer cell types, including those from the stomach, liver, colon, and blood.

More research is required because at least one study was unable to duplicate these findings. Lion's mane extract has also been demonstrated to stop the spread of cancer in addition to destroying cancer cells. A lion's mane extract supplementation prevented the progression of colon cancer to the lungs in mice by 69 percent, according to one research. In a different research, tumor development in mice was found to be slowed down more effectively and with fewer side effects by lion's mane extract than by conventional cancer medicines. More investigation is required since the lion's mane mushroom's anti-cancer properties have never been proven in people.

Many contemporary diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders, are thought to be fueled by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. According to research, lion's mane mushrooms contain potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances that might lessen the severity of certain diseases. In fact, lion's mane had the fourth-highest antioxidant activity of 14 different mushroom species, according to one study that looked at their antioxidant capacities, and it was advised that it be regarded as an excellent dietary source of antioxidants.

The therapy of inflammatory bowel disease, liver damage, and stroke may all benefit from the use of lion's mane extract, which has been shown in several animal trials to lower indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress in rats. Lion's mane mushrooms have been proven to lessen the amount of inflammation created by adipose tissue, which may help minimize some of the health problems related to obesity. The outcomes from lab and animal trials are encouraging, but further research is required to assess the possible health advantages in humans.

The body is shielded from bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing organisms by a robust immune system. On the other side, a compromised immune system increases the body's vulnerability to infectious infections. Intestinal immunity, which defends the body from pathogens that enter the gut through the mouth or nose, has been shown in animal studies to be strengthened by lion's mane mushrooms.

These results might be partially attributed to changes in gut flora that benefit the immune system. One study even discovered that giving rats inoculated with a fatal dosage of salmonella germs lion's mane extract daily as a supplement practically tripled their longevity. Although lion's mane mushrooms have highly potential immune-boosting properties, research in this field is still in its early stages.