Yamabushitake: Elevates Nerve Growth Factor and Amplifies Cognitive Abilities

Scientific insights into medicinal mushrooms, particularly Lion’s Mane, for cognitive and neurological health, based on literature reviews

This story reflects my research and personal experiences related to medicinal mushrooms. This post does not include health advice. It is only for information and awareness purposes.

A photo of Lion's Mane MushroomPhoto byImage courtesy of Wiki Commons

Over the last three decades, I reviewed extensive research into several medicinal mushrooms like the Agaricus bisporus, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifolia frondosa, and Lentinula edodes. They are all exciting and promising mushrooms for various health conditions.

However, in this post, I specifically focus on Hericium erinaceus (Yamabushitake), also known as Lion’s Mane, due to its impact on cognitive function and neurological health, to give my readers some perspective. Hericium erinaceus has become one of the most promising candidates for biomedical research for medicinal mushrooms.

I wrote many articles about valuable nutrients and molecules. The last one was about the cognitive benefits of Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi), another plant-based molecule, so I hope my vegan and vegetarian readers will find them valuable.

As part of my postdoctoral studies in cognitive science, I am intensely interested in molecules and proteins in the brain and nervous system, like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF), for personal and professional reasons. I wrote about BDNF, mainly to increase it via healthy lifestyle choices like fasting, meditation, and intense workouts.

In this post, I briefly touch on NGF as scientists studied Hericium erinaceus and found that it has specific molecules that can make NGF in nerve cells. They also checked how this mushroom extract works with NGF to help nerve cells grow longer branches, called neurites.

Hericium erinaceus has neurotrophic properties, which can be valuable for protecting nerves and preventing neurodegenerative disorders.

This 2021 scientific paper in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences informs that:

“Medicinal mushrooms have important health benefits and exhibit pharmacological activities, like antiallergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, anti-depressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive activities.”

Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal mushroom known for its potential to benefit cognitive function, brain chemistry, and nerve health. One of its active components, erinacine A, has been shown to affect the central nervous system in rats positively.

Here is a clinical trial paper on erinacine A for the Prevention of Early Alzheimer’s Disease.

So far, studies on Hericium erinaceus have mainly been done on mice. Therefore, it’s challenging to apply findings from animal studies to human clinical situations directly. However, preclinical research indicates that incorporating Hericium erinaceus mycelia enriched with erinacines into our diets may offer potential improvements in conditions like ischemic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression.

Before discussing studies, let me briefly introduce this interesting and well-researched mushroom for those unaware of it.

A Brief Overview of Hericium Erinaceus (Yamabushitake)

Yamabushitake, also known as Lion’s Mane Mushroom, is widely used in Asian cuisine and medicine. The distinctive appearance of Yamabushitake hides compounds that promote the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a crucial element in the growth and survival of nerve cells.

Neurotrophic factors act as supportive guides in the growth and specialization of neurons, which are the building blocks of nerve cells. Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a pivotal role in nurturing and maintaining the health of nerve cells.

Based on current research, Yamabushitake appears to enhance cognitive function and may lower the risk of cognitive decline, especially in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Consequently, the primary applications of Yamabushitake are in supporting cognitive health and potentially offering neuroprotective benefits.

Yamabushitake is usually consumed as a capsule or powder. Practitioners recommend a dose of 500–1000 mg/day. It can be taken with or without food. In many countries, products, including Yamabushitake, can be purchased from health shops. Some of my friends purchase it online.

Brief Insights from the Scientific Literature

This 2013 study published in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms used a cell type called NG108–15 for their experiments and found that a combination of NGF and the mushroom extract helped nerve cells grow 60.6% more neurites.

However, when they tested if the mushroom extract could protect nerve cells from damage caused by oxidative stress in cells, it didn’t work. So, it has a neurotrophic effect but does not seem to have neuroprotective activities. The study concluded that:

The mushroom extract has molecules that can help nerve cells grow and connect better, but it can’t protect them from damage.

As informed in this paper, “The fruiting body of Hericium erinaceus has been demonstrated to possess anti-dementia activity in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease and people with mild cognitive impairment. However, the therapeutic potential of Hericium erinaceus mycelia on Alzheimer’s disease remained unclear.”

Therefore, in this study published in the Journal of Biomedical Science, the effects of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia (HE-My) on the pathological changes in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease are studied.

These results highlight the therapeutic potential of HE-My and HE-Et on Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, these effective components are worth to be developed to become a therapeutic drug for Alzheimer’s disease.

This comprehensive 2018 review published in the Journal of Behaviour Neurology informed that studies to this point suggest that Hericium erinaceus when enriched with its active components, can protect brain cells in rats from some diseases like stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and depression.

It has also shown promise in aiding nerve recovery and function in rats with conditions like nerve pain and hearing loss. Researchers concluded that while more research with humans is required to grasp its potential uses fully, the current animal studies indicate that this enriched mushroom is safe and has valuable effects on protecting the nervous system.

This review has gathered information about the effects of Hericium erinaceus mycelia enriched with erinacines on nerve health, which could pave the way for further research into their therapeutic potential.

Studies keep going across the globe. For example, earlier this year, a scientific study conducted in Australia was published. The title of the paper in the Journal of Neurochemistry is:

“Hericerin derivatives activate a pan-neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1/2 signaling enhancing spatial memory.”

By the way, spatial memory involves retaining and recalling information related to the physical layout of spaces, like rooms, streets, or landscapes. I will summarize my research on it in another article.

Through the use of super-resolution microscopy, Australian researchers made an intriguing discovery. The extract from the mushroom, with its active components, has a significant impact on the size of growth cones.

These growth cones play a crucial role in enabling brain cells to sense their surroundings and establish fresh connections with other neurons in the brain. This finding highlights the potential importance of the mushroom extract in supporting the brain’s ability to adapt and create new neural connections.

In experiments with mice, feeding them Hericium erinaceus crude extract and hericene A resulted in increased neurotrophin expression and downstream signaling. This led to significantly improved memory in the hippocampus, indicating that hericene A activates a novel and comprehensive neurotrophic pathway that positively impacts cognitive performance.

So, for science enthusiasts, in summary, the study found that N-de phenylethyl isohericerin (NDPIH) neurotrophic activity was partly related to a signaling pathway involving tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), possibly linked to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling.

However, NDPIH also activated a different signaling pathway, specifically ERK1/2, independently of TrkB. The presence of TrkB or the inhibition of TrkB by ANA-12 in certain cell types did not influence this pathway.

These findings suggest that NDPIH acts through a unique neurotrophic pathway, ultimately enhancing cognitive function serving as a cognitive reserve as we age.

Conclusions

Apart from neurological health, the Yamabushitake mushroom has also been found helpful for metabolic health. For example, this 2010 animal study investigated the impact of it on lipid metabolism in mice.

Mice on a high-fat diet were given Yamabushitake mushroom extracts. After 28 days, there was a notable reduction in body weight gain, fat weight, and serum and hepatic triacylglycerol levels.

These findings imply that EtOH-E can enhance lipid metabolism in mice on a high-fat diet, potentially by influencing the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism through the activation of PPARalpha.

Moreover, some studies have explored the Yamabushitake mushroom’s impact on the immune system, especially for anti-cancer research, digestive health, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I will cover some clinical trials in another story.

There are also some promising benefits for depression. This review paper on MDPI informs that based on the neurotrophic and neurogenic pathophysiology of depression, Hericium erinaceus may be a potential alternative medicine for the treatment of depression.

If you want to learn more about the previous research related to this topic, you may check this 2023 paper, which includes many scientific references at the end of it. Unfortunately, it is not possible to touch all in a short story.

Mushrooms offer various health benefits, but it’s necessary to exercise caution, as some species are toxic and can be deadly if consumed. For example, the Amanita phalloides (the Death Cap mushroom) resembles edible varieties but is highly poisonous.

Warning: Ingesting toxic mushrooms can lead to severe illnesses or even fatalities, making it crucial to be knowledgeable about mushroom identification or rely on experts when foraging for wild mushrooms.

Apart from supplemental nutrients, from my experience, the best way to improve cognitive health is to manage stress with movement, restorative sleep, and a balanced diet of whole foods. I enjoy time-restricted eating, long-term fasting, cold showers, and dry saunas, which can benefit cognitive health by increasing BDNF.

However, if we cannot get essential minerals and vitamins, it is wise to consider supplementing them with support from qualified healthcare professionals. When I had a vitamin b12 deficiency, supplementing it with support from a hematologist solved my anemia problem.

I reviewed several nutrients and supplements from credible sources by validating the information with my observations and personal experience.

I also wrote about seven valuable nutrients for cognitive health that might help older people. However, besides fundamentals like nutrition, workouts, and sleep, nothing has been better than meditation and fasting to improve my cognitive performance.

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

I regularly contribute to NewsBreak, sharing my decades of original research and experience in science and technology.