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Longevity Atlas
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Lion's Mane mushroom

An NGF-stimulating mushroom; one small Japanese RCT showed gains in mild cognitive impairment that vanished after stopping. More data needed.

2/5Estimated monthly cost: ≈ 15 €
Dose

1–3 g mushroom powder or 500–1,000 mg extract (fruiting body).

Timing

Morning.

⚠ Cautions

Mushroom allergy; mycelium-based products are mostly rice.

What it is

Hericium erinaceus; hericenones and erinacines stimulate nerve growth factor in cell culture.

What the evidence shows

Mori 2009 (n=30, 16 weeks, 3 g/day): cognitive scale improved, fell back 4 weeks after stopping. 2023 Australian RCT (n=41): faster processing after a single dose. Small, short studies.

Goals

Brain, memory

Sources

  1. Mori K et al. Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment – RCT. Phytother Res (2009) ↗

Last reviewed: 6 September 2026

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