Lion's Mane for Neuroplasticity Enhancement
Lion's mane stimulates nerve growth factor in vitro, but human trials are small and short.
Overview
Verdict
Compelling NGF mechanism, thin human evidence.
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 500-1000 mg daily of fruiting-body extract
- Expected timeframe
- 8-16 weeks
Protocol
- form
- Not applicable
- duration
- Not applicable
- co factor
- Evidence is insufficient. In rodents and cell culture, lion's mane compounds stimulate NGF synthesis, promote neurite outgrowth, and in some studies increase hippocampal neurogenesis - all reasonable proxies for plasticity in a laboratory. No human study has measured neuroplasticity after lion's mane by any method: no imaging, no cortical excitability testing, no neurogenesis marker, no learning-related plasticity paradigm. The human trial base consists of one small 16-week study in mild cognitive impairment using a cognitive scale, plus a handful of small studies on mood and acute cognition. Absorption and blood-brain barrier penetration of hericenones in humans also remain poorly characterised, so even the mechanistic first step is unconfirmed in people.
- titration
- Not applicable
- starting dose
- Not applicable as an established treatment
Evidence
What the studies say
Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K +2 more
Cognitive function scores increased with Yamabushitake intake and declined again after supplementation was stopped.
Safety
Caveats
Fruiting body versus mycelium potency differs greatly between products.
Less likely to help if
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