Could Protect Against Dementia

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.