Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
What it is
Edible mushroom whose hericenones and erinacines may stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, theoretically supporting neuronal health.
What the evidence says
Human evidence is thin and preliminary. Most-cited support is a small 16-week Japanese RCT in older adults with mild cognitive impairment showing improvement that faded after stopping. A 2023 Nutrients pilot RCT (n=41 young adults, 1.8 g/day) found faster Stroop performance 60 minutes after a single dose and a weak trend toward lower stress at 28 days, but null results on most cognitive measures. Trials are small, short, and use varied extracts; benefits in healthy people are not established.
Commonly 1.8-3 g/day of fruiting-body extract in trials; no consensus effective dose for healthy adults.
Educational summary of doses studied — not a recommendation. Talk to a clinician before starting any supplement.
Sources (1)
Educational summary of published research, checked against primary sources and linked inline. Not medical advice; supplements are not FDA-evaluated to treat disease. See our editorial policy.