Lion's Mane for Synaptic Plasticity
Lion's mane has appealing nerve growth factor mechanism and thin human evidence.
Overview
Verdict
How It Works
Dosing & Protocol
Typical dose
- Recommended dose
- 500-1000mg extract daily
- Expected timeframe
- 8-16 weeks
Protocol
- form
- Not applicable
- duration
- Not applicable
- co factor
- Evidence is insufficient. Rodent studies report that lion's mane extract enhances hippocampal long-term potentiation, increases synaptic protein expression and promotes neurite outgrowth in culture - and one mouse study found improved hippocampal memory with increased neurogenesis. Long-term potentiation is a genuine and well-defined measure of synaptic plasticity, but it is measured in brain slices and anaesthetised animals, not in people taking capsules. No human study has assessed synaptic plasticity after lion's mane by any available method, including transcranial magnetic stimulation paradigms that can index cortical plasticity non-invasively. Human absorption and brain penetration of the relevant compounds are also not well characterised.
- titration
- Not applicable
- starting dose
- Not applicable as an established treatment
Evidence
What the studies say
Lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) and nerve growth factor-mediated neurite outgrowth: evidence review
Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V +5 more
Hericium extracts stimulated NGF-dependent neurite outgrowth in neuronal cells
Safety
Caveats
Small trials, mostly from one research group. Rare skin and respiratory reactions.
Less likely to help if
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