Outline
The brain's ability to form new connections (plasticity) tends to decrease with age. This may explain why mental functioning tends to worsen as we get older. (1)
Hericenones and Erinacines are two main compounds in Lion's mane that have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF). These two compounds can pass through the blood-brain barrier where NGF can't meaning Lion's mane can improve brain health, re-growing and regenerating brain cells. (2)
Alzheimer's
In addition, animal studies have found that lions' mane may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
Extracts have been shown to reduce symptoms of memory loss in mice and prevent neurological damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which gather around the brain during Alzheimer's disease (4, 5, 6).
In 2020 a study of people with mild Alzheimer's disease found that supplementation with 1 gram of Lion's mane daily for 49 weeks significantly improved cognitive test scores compared with a placebo control group and baseline (7).
Parkinson's
A modelled study was conducted in 2020 to evaluate how lion's mane may affect Parkinson's disease. The results suggest that lion's mane is very effective in treating damaged brain neurones to recover from Parkinson's disease.
Another study showed a low daily dosage of (10.76 or 21.52 mg/day) showed significant improvement in oxidative stress and dopaminergic damage (lack of dopamine) in the striatum and substantia nigra in a Parkinson's disease animal model after 25 days. Dopaminergic damage is also associated with ADHD.
It should be noted that while this research is promising more human studies are needed.
The Bottom Line
The research is promising and suggests trying Lions Mane Mushroom extracts might be worth a go. Navigate to the shop page on this website to find our very own powerful UK grown and extracted Lions Mane tinctures designed to help you extend your health span.
At Smart Mushrooms this topic is very personal to us and we aim to conduct research in this area in the coming years!
Dosage
Start with a low dosage (about 400 mg or 1 ml of smart mushrooms tincture) and steadily increase the dose until you reach about 2000 mg or start noticing an improvement in your symptoms. To reap the benefits of lion's mane may have you should take the supplement every day for at least a month. Consistency is the key.
