Mushrooms and Alzheimer's - Complementary Cognitive Support

“Medicinal” or functional mushrooms -- such as lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, and chaga -- are being explored for brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Lab and animal studies point to possible brain-protective and memory-supportive benefits.

Human evidence is still early: small trials with lion’s mane show signals in mild cognitive impairment (and a pilot in mild AD), while most other mushrooms remain preclinical or have mixed/negative early results.

This article looks at how mushrooms might help (directly and indirectly), what the best data show, and how to think about quality, safety, and realistic expectations alongside guideline-directed AD care. Let's get to it!

Mushrooms and Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by the gradual loss of memory, thinking skills and daily function.

Biologically, it’s associated with abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain, synapse loss, ongoing brain inflammation, and progressive brain atrophy -- especially in regions that are important for memory, like the hippocampus.

How Mushrooms Might Help

Keep in mind that while the following functional mushroom bioactivities have been explored in research, they have not definitively been connected to AD or other types of brain degeneration. Some potential brain-beneficial bioactivities of mushrooms include:

• Antioxidant defense: Mushroom bioactive compounds like polyphenols and polysaccharides may help fight oxidative stress that damages neurons and synapses.
• Neurotrophic support: Some species (especially lion’s mane) are studied for promoting NGF/BDNF signaling linked to synaptic growth and neuroplasticity.
• Inflammation modulation: Mushroom Beta-glucans and triterpenes may help rebalance immune activity and regulate inflammatory responses in the brain.
• Mitochondrial & energy support: Compounds in cordyceps and others may support cellular energy production and resilience. Top 4 Mushrooms for Energy
• Neurovascular effects: Certain mushroom extracts may support blood vessel function (nitric oxide) and cerebral blood flow -- key for nutrient/oxygen delivery.
• Gut–brain axis: Mushroom prebiotic polysaccharides can feed the microbiome, which in turn influences digestion, brain chemicals and brain signaling.

Mushrooms' Possible Complementary Benefits

The previous section discusses bioactivities that may help to nourish overall brain health.

• Mental energy & stamina: Smoother cell energy production can make daily effort feel easier; AD is linked to energy deficits in the brain.
• Stress resilience & sleep quality: Calmer HPA-axis signaling and better rest can support memory processes.
• Mood & motivation: Support for emotional balance may improve engagement in rehab, social activity, and exercise.
• Cognitive clarity: Nootropic-leaning mushroom species (like lion’s mane) are being studied for attention and processing speed.
• General health: Immune balance, metabolic support, and cardiovascular benefits can indirectly aid brain health.

Used wisely -- alongside professional medical care, physical activity, sleep, socializing, and a nutrient-dense diet -- mushrooms may complement a doctor's Alzheimer's treatment plan, as well as helping to support overall brain health and general wellness.

Mushrooms Alzheimer's: Possible Links

Lion’s mane

Lion’s mane is a shaggy, white culinary and medicinal mushroom long used across East Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) it appears as hóu tóu gū (“monkey head”), and in Japan as yamabushitake, where it has been associated with calm focus and gut support.

Modern research has zeroed in on two families of compounds -- hericenones (mostly in the fruiting body) and erinacines (mostly in the mycelium) -- that appear to influence brain plasticity and resilience.

Lion's mane is regarded as the best nootropic mushroom, mostly due to its ability to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) pathways.

This shaggy mushroom is also the only one on our list that has an early research study investigating its potential for Alzheimer's, specifically. More on that in a moment.

How Lion’s Mane Might Work in the Brain

Nerve nourishment (NGF/BDNF): Disrupted Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) are linked to brain degeneration. Lion's mane Hericenones and erinacines have been shown to cross the blood–brain barrier and stimulate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), with related benefits for brain plasticity, learning and memory. The same compounds may influence Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).

Neuroinflammation & oxidative stress: Brain inflammation and unstable molecules called free radicals are linked to AD. Preclinical models suggest Lion's Mane may modulate inflammation and improve antioxidant defenses, which in theory may promote significant neuroprotective effects, helping to shield vulnerable brain cells through aging and degenerative states.

Myelination & network integrity: Myelin is a fatty, insulating sheath that wraps around nerve fibers, allowing electrical signals to be transmitted quickly and efficiently throughout the central nervous system. Some animal and cell studies suggest Lion's mane may enhance nerve formation and myelin support, potentially helping nerve signaling.(1)

Gut–brain axis: Lion's mane mushroom supplies prebiotic fiber that feeds the gut microbiome: a colony of "good bacteria" in the digestive tract that helps brain chemicals, food metabolism and more. A recent pilot study in older adults reported increased microbiome diversity and shifts in neuroactivity, suggesting an indirect route to brain benefits.(2)

Discover today's top ultramodern prebiotic fiber supplement

Lion's Mane Human Studies: Alzheimer’s and Cognition

There is one specific study on Lion's Mane for Alzheimer's, along with several other cognitive function studies that may be relevant to people with brain health concerns.

Let's start with the Alzheimer's study, as it is the most relevant research on mushrooms for Alzheimer's so far.

Erinacine A–Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia for Early/Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers ran a small, year-long clinical trial to see whether a standardized lion’s-mane–based product could help people with early/mild Alzheimer’s disease. The product was erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia (EAHE): a form of lion’s mane grown for a specific compound (erinacine A) that has shown nerve-supporting effects in lab studies.

About 49 adults with mild Alzheimer’s were randomly assigned to take either EAHE or a look-alike placebo for 49 weeks. The EAHE dose was three capsules daily (each 350 mg; total 1,050 mg/day with about 5 mg/g erinacine A).

The research team tracked subjects' cognition and daily functioning using standard tests:

• Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) for global cognition;
• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) for day-to-day function (things like managing meds or finances);
• Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) for behavior and mood symptoms.

What did the research find? By the end of the study, the EAHE group did better on IADL than the placebo group -- suggesting a functional advantage in everyday tasks.(3)

However, there were no clear differences between groups on the MMSE, CASI, or NPI. This means there were no real changes to cognition and psychiatric symptoms; the mushroom group fared no better than the placebo group.

Safety looked pretty good overall: a few people stopped due to mild side effects (abdominal discomfort, nausea, or a rash) -- three from the lion's mane group and one from the placebo group.

Because this was a pilot with a modest sample, the results are preliminary and mainly tell us that larger, longer studies are needed to confirm whether this lion’s-mane preparation provides meaningful clinical benefit.

Key takeaway: In mild AD, 49 weeks of ericane-enriched lion's mane extract was safe and improved day-to-day functioning vs. placebo, but did not outperform placebo on MMSE, CASI, or NPI. The results are encouraging, but better studies are needed for clarification.

Lion's Mane Possible Indirect Support

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): In a 16-week, double-blind trial (n=30, ages 50–80), participants with MCI who took lion’s mane (3 g/day) improved more on a standard cognitive scale than those on placebo; gains faded after stopping, suggesting effects depend on continued use.(4)

Mood & stress: In small trials, lion’s mane was linked to a significant reduction in self-reported depression/anxiety in menopausal women over 4 weeks.(5) It was also associated with lowered subjective stress in younger adults over 28 days.(6) Since stress and mood symptoms can worsen cognition and caregiver burden in AD, these indirect effects may matter for quality of life -- even if they’re not specific to AD.

Discover top mushrooms that may help anxiety and depression

Cognitive abilities: An 8-week study on a small group of healthy adults age 55+ found that taking lion's mane mushroom enriched with erinacine A improved cognitive abilities like mental speed, perception, and information processing. The study also found that the people taking the supplement had an increase in the diversity of their gut bacteria; researchers linked this benefit to the cognitive effects.(7)

Practical Notes

Most supplements use fruiting body powder/extract (richer in hericenones) or mycelial products (some standardized for erinacines). The AD pilot study we discussed used a Lion's Mane capsule enriched with erinacine-A for 49 weeks, highlighting that product quality and the length of time the product is taken are both important for effectiveness. Typical Lion's Mane dosages range from ~500–3,000 mg/day of extract or powder; however, equivalence across brands is uncertain—look for third-party testing and clear standardization.

Get the full scoop on the top 7 Lion's Mane health benefits

Reishi

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) -- known as lingzhi in China and revered for over two millennia -- has been used as a health-preserving tonic in East Asian traditions, where it is known as the "mushroom of immortality."

For over two millennia, it has been revered as a symbol of longevity, divine power, and well-being. Historically, it was so rare in the wild that its use was reserved for royalty and nobility.

In traditional practices, reishi is valued as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body cope with stress. It's believed to nourish the "three treasures" -- Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit) -- and is used to support the immune system, calm the mind, and promote overall vitality.

Modern research focuses on two broad classes of compounds: polysaccharides (Beta-glucans) and triterpenoids, which show antioxidant and immune-modulating actions that could have some influence on healthy brain aging.

Potential bioactivies for brain support

Brain inflammation: Reishi polysaccharides and ganoderic acids may help to reduce pro-inflammatory signaling that is implicated in synaptic loss and cognitive decline.(8)

Antioxidant & mitochondrial support: Extracts bolster endogenous antioxidants and limit lipid peroxidation in brain tissue, supporting brain energy metabolism.(9) Discover ultramodern cell energy supplements

Unhealthy brain protein regulation: Ganoderic acid A in reishi has been shown to promote clearance of unhealthy brain proteins and soothe neuroinflammation in AD-model mice.(10)

Neurogenesis & synaptic plasticity: In AD mice, reishi polysaccharides improved learning/memory and increased neural growth in the hippocampus.(11)

Human Research: A 6-week randomized, placebo-controlled pilot using reishi spore powder in Alzheimer’s patients was well-tolerated but did not demonstrate clear cognitive benefit. In this small study, 42 people with Alzheimer’s disease were randomly assigned to take either Reishi spore powder (3 grams per day) or a placebo for 6 weeks.

Researchers tracked subjects' thinking ability, memory and quality of life. After 6 weeks, the mushroom group did not perform better than placebo on any of these measures. Side effects were mild and similar in both groups.

Researchers reported that, at this dose and over this short time frame, spore powder did not show clinical benefit, and that larger, longer studies would be needed to know for sure.(12)

Practical Notes

Reishi products include fruiting-body extracts, polysaccharide-standardized powders, and spore or “sporoderm-broken” spore powders. Chemistry and quality differs across brands. The negative AD pilot used a spore-powder product for 6 weeks -- likely too brief to inform long-term use.

Key takeaway: Reishi might show promising mechanisms for Alzheimer’s, but the only human study for resihi and Alzheimer's was negative (short duration).

Cordyceps

Cordyceps is an East Asian fungus with a long history as a restorative tonic. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the wild “caterpillar fungus” (because it grows from caterpillar carcasses) was prized to “nourish the kidney and benefit the lung,” combat fatigue, and support healthy aging.

Cordyceps is considered an adaptogen mushroom for helping with peak performance and stress management, and is also valued by athletes for its ability to charge-up energy, strength and endurance in the gym.

Because the wild form is rare and costly to collect, modern supplements commonly use cultivated Cordyceps militaris, which is rich in novel bioactive compounds like cordycepin. Today, preclinical research is exploring whether these compounds might protect the brain and, in particular, help with processes implicated in Alzheimer’s (AD).

One early animal study found that in mice with amyloid proteins (a marker of AD), cordyceps extracts were associated with improved memory-related behaviors and reduced oxidative stress.(13)

Potential bioactivities for brain support

Brain inflammation: Cordycepin in cordyceps may down-regulate pro-inflammatory signaling and regulate over-activation in cell and animal models that is otherwise linked to synaptic loss in AD.(14)

Neuromodulation: Cordycepin may influence adenosine signaling, potentially shifting nerve excitotoxicity, neurotrophins (like BDNF), and neuroinflammation toward a state of healthy protection.(15)

Oxidative stress & mitochondrial support: Cordyceps extracts increase antioxidant enzymes and reduce oxidation in brain tissue in vivo, effects that may suggest preservation of brain energy metabolism.(16)

Network & synaptic support: Several models report improved learning/memory behaviors after cordyceps or cordycepin.(17)

Practical Notes

Supplements vary: some provide fruiting-body extracts (often standardized by “cordycepin” or polysaccharides), others use mycelial products from submerged fermentation. Short-term cordyceps use is generally well tolerated in studies outside AD.

Key takeaway: As of now, there are no published randomized clinical trials in people with Alzheimer’s disease testing cordyceps. Human research on cordyceps centers on exercise performance and immune modulation, which may provide some complementary support for people with brain concerns. For example, by improving anti-fatigue capacity and overall resilience, cordyceps could support daily activity, sleep quality, and mood -- all of which are linked to brain health.

A Word on Psilocybin for Alzheimer's Disease

Psilocybin mushrooms, also called "magic mushrooms," have entered the chat on Alzheimer's. They supply psilocin, also known as 4-HO-DMT, a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound. It is the primary bioactive compounds derived from the mushroom associated with psilocybin effects.

There are no research studies on psilocybin mushrooms for Alzheimer's yet. However, some early preclinical data has shown that psilosin promotes neuroplasticity mechanisms and may boost some markers of synaptic plasticity.(18) This psilocybin induced synaptic enhancement may hold promise for brain degeneration.

It may be worth noting that psychedelic-assisted therapy is also increasingly explored for possible beneficial effects on quality of life, mood and anxiety, which may provide some indirect support for those with degenerative brain challenges. But there are potential significant adverse reactions, and it's best to approach psilocybin in a controlled environment under the direction of a healthcare professional.

Science-Backed Lifestyle Practices & Practical Tips for Alzheimer’s

While there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, lifestyle changes can be a significant part of a holistic management strategy. Research, including large-scale clinical trials, has shown that a combination of healthy habits can help protect brain health and may slow the progression of cognitive decline.

These interventions often include a multi-faceted approach centered on physical exercise, a heart-healthy diet (such as the Mediterranean diet), cognitive engagement, and social activity.

• Move most days: Aim for 150+ minutes/week of moderate aerobic activity (e.g., brisk walking, cycling) plus 2 days of strength training. Add balance/flexibility work (tai chi, yoga) to reduce falls.
• Eat for brain and heart health: Favor a Mediterranean pattern -- vegetables (especially leafy greens), berries, beans, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, whole plant foods, fish; minimize highly processed foods, excess sugar, and trans fats.
• Prioritize sleep: Target 7-9 hours nightly. Keep a regular schedule, a cool/dark room, and limit late caffeine/alcohol. Ask about snoring, apnea, or restless legs if sleep is unrefreshing. Poor sleep is a risk factor for suboptimal cognition.
• Manage blood pressure, sugar, and lipids: Work with your clinician to control hypertension, diabetes/prediabetes, and cholesterol. Poor vascular function is linked to increased risk for brain concerns.
• Protect hearing and vision: Get screened and use hearing aids and updated glasses when needed; better sensory input supports attention, mood, and cognition.
• Stay socially engaged: Schedule meaningful contact -- clubs, classes, volunteering, or regular meetups. Social connection supports mood and cognitive reserve.
• Challenge your brain: Learn new skills (language, instrument), practice structured cognitive activities (puzzles, memory tasks), and combine with movement (dance, tai chi) for extra benefit.
  
• Avoid smoking and drinking: Smoking cessation and limiting alcohol protect brain and vascular health.
  
• Manage stress: Use brief daily practices -- paced breathing, meditation, nature walks, or prayer. Chronic stress can worsen sleep, mood, and attention.
• Address anxiety and depression symptoms: Mood symptoms are common and treatable; better mood often means better thinking and participation in daily activities.
• Be cautious with supplements: No supplement cures Alzheimer’s. If you’re considering one, choose high-quality, third-party–tested products and always discuss with your clinician to avoid interactions.

People who stick to a combination of these behaviors may have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and can show improvements in cognitive deficits. It's important to note that the effectiveness for memory and cognitive functions can vary, but these lifestyle changes may offer a natural and healthy way to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Best Stack Supplement with Lion's Mane Mushroom: Mind Lab Pro®

Mind Lab Pro® Ingredients: Citicoline (CDP Choline) dosage 250mg per serving, Phosphatidylserine (PS) 100mg (from sunflower lecithin), Bacopa monnieri 150mg (24% bacosides), Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom 500mg (fruit and mycelium), Maritime Pine Bark Extract 75mg (95% proanthocyanidins), N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine 175mg, L-Theanine 100mg per serving, Rhodiola rosea 50mg (3% rosavins and 1% salidrosides), NutriGenesis® Vitamin B6 (2.5 mg), Vitamin B9 (100 mcg), Vitamin B12 (7.5 mcg)

Mind Lab Pro® (MLP®) is the top nootropic supplement in the world. It supplies 11 research-backed brain nutrients, skillfully combined to promote a whole-brain boost. MLP enhances several brain functions at once -- memory, focus, attention, mood, stress resistance, mental energy and more.

MLP includes 500 mg of Lion's Mane Mushroom from Fruit and Mycelium.

Beyond its place as the best supplement with Lion's Mane Mushroom, Mind Lab Pro is also noteworthy because it is backed by three peer-reviewed scientific and clinical trials:

• Study 1: Subjects who took MLP for 30 demonstrated significant improvements (compared to placebo) in information processing speed.(19)
• Study 2: Subjects who took MLP for 30 days showed elevated performance across all memory functions tested, with the greatest benefits to immediate and delayed recall memory.(20)
• Study 3: Researchers reported taking MLP for 60 days appeared to help the brain's different regions to work together as a team more efficiently.(21)

Read about all 3 Mind Lab Pro clinical studies

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Summary

Functional mushrooms are not Alzheimer’s treatments, but several show biology that could support brain resilience. The most encouraging human data come from lion’s mane (signals in mild cognitive impairment and a pilot in mild AD), while reishi has promising mechanisms but mixed early clinical results, and cordyceps/chaga remain primarily preclinical. Across species, proposed actions -- calming neuroinflammation, boosting antioxidant defenses, nudging neurotrophins (NGF/BDNF), supporting autophagy, and helping mitochondrial and vascular function -- map to pathways relevant to cognitive aging.

In practice, mushrooms may be most useful as adjuncts that help with the “terrain” around cognition: mood, sleep, fatigue, stress tolerance, and daily function. Any benefits tend to be subtle, require consistent use for weeks to months, and fade after stopping. If you and your clinician decide to try one, choose a third-party–tested product with clear species/part/standardization, start low, track meaningful outcomes (e.g., sleep, mood, daily activities), and reassess regularly.

Bottom line: keep expectations realistic and anchor care in guideline-directed AD therapies, exercise, sleep, vascular risk control, nutrition, and social/cognitive engagement. Mushrooms can be thoughtful additions to that foundation -- not replacements for it.