A new study has found that Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) mushroom supplementation may provide a welcome boost to cognitive performance and reduce stress response in younger people; this is the first such study (published in Nutrients) to make this observation.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups design pilot study investigated the effects of immediate (60 minutes post-dose) and sustained (28-day intervention) of daily supplementation with 1.8 g of Lion’s mane blend DSX1 in 41 healthy adults aged 18–45 years.

Analysis revealed that following a single dose of DSX1 participants performed quicker on the Stroop test at 60 minutes post-dose. The Stroop test measures cognitive function, notably the ability to reduce and/or prevent easy distractions; it is used to assess such abilities as planning, reading skill, and decision-making, among others.

Additionally, reduced subjective stress was reported following 28 days of supplementation. There was a distinct trend after 28 days on the Stress Visual Analog Score (VAS) with the participants in the DSX1 lion’s mane group reported significantly lower scores in subjective stress in comparison to placebo.

Immediate effect testing showed that those participants who consumed DXS1 lion’s mane performed more quickly on the Stroop test compared to before supplementation.

The authors wrote, “When first considering the speed improvement, it must be highlighted that this was only observed on a singular task (Stroop) and was not seen for any other task nor the global speed of performance domain, as such this result should be taken with caution. Nevertheless, this is a novel finding to the area, where although previous enhancements to cognitive decline have been observed, no effects on speed of performance have been seen.”

Study Link.

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