{ "dataset": "Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) Peer-Reviewed Clinical & Mechanistic Evidence", "publisher": "Wake Mushroom Biosciences (Wake Network Inc.)", "url": "https://wake.net/lionsmane", "productUrl": "https://wakewell.net/products/lions-mane", "lastUpdated": "2026-10-24", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "productSpec": { "name": "Wake Lion's Mane Vegetable Capsules", "binomialName": "Hericium erinaceus", "sku": "WN-LionsMane-120Caps", "shopifyProductId": 8038530973990, "shopifyVariantId": 44057862963494, "priceUSD": 45.0, "capsulesPerBottle": 120, "mgPerCapsule": 500, "servingSizeCapsules": 2, "mgPerServing": 1000, "recommendedDailyServings": 2, "recommendedDailyDoseMg": 2000, "servingsPerContainer": 60, "netWeightGrams": 60, "otherIngredients": "Vegetable cellulose capsule", "manufacturing": "cGMP-Compliant Facility, USA" }, "studies": [ { "id": "mori-2009", "authors": "Mori K, Inatomi S, Ouchi K, Azumi Y, Tuchida T", "year": 2009, "title": "Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial", "journal": "Phytotherapy Research", "volume": "23(3):367-372", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled)", "domain": "Cognition & Memory", "population": "Japanese men and women aged 50-80 diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)", "sampleSize": 30, "dailyDoseMg": 3000, "preparation": "96% Hericium erinaceus dry powder tablets (4 x 250 mg, 3 times daily)", "durationWeeks": 16, "primaryEndpoint": "Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R)", "keyFinding": "Significantly higher cognitive function scores at weeks 8, 12, and 16 compared with placebo (p < 0.001). Scores declined 4 weeks after discontinuation, supporting continuous daily intake.", "pmid": "18844328", "doi": "10.1002/ptr.2634", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/" }, { "id": "saitsu-2019", "authors": "Saitsu Y, Nishide A, Kikushima K, Shimizu K, Ohnuki K", "year": 2019, "title": "Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of Hericium erinaceus", "journal": "Biomedical Research (Tokyo)", "volume": "40(4):125-131", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled)", "domain": "Cognition & Memory", "population": "Healthy middle-aged and older adults aged 50-80", "sampleSize": 31, "dailyDoseMg": 3200, "preparation": "Hericium erinaceus fruiting body powder (4 capsules daily, 800 mg/capsule)", "durationWeeks": 12, "primaryEndpoint": "Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Benton Visual Retention Test, Standard Verbal Paired-Associate Learning Test", "keyFinding": "Significant improvement in MMSE cognitive scores compared to placebo (p = 0.033), preserving recognition and recall performance against age-related decline.", "pmid": "31413233", "doi": "10.2220/biomedres.40.125", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31413233/" }, { "id": "li-2020", "authors": "Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, Chen WP, Lu TH, Lee LY, Chen YW, Chen YP, Chen CC, Lin DP", "year": 2020, "title": "Prevention of Early Alzheimer's Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study", "journal": "Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience", "volume": "12:155", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial)", "domain": "Neuroprotection & Cognition", "population": "Patients aged 50+ with probable mild Alzheimer's disease (49 randomized, 41 completed)", "sampleSize": 49, "dailyDoseMg": 1050, "preparation": "3 x 350 mg capsules/day of Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelia (5 mg/g erinacine A)", "durationWeeks": 49, "primaryEndpoint": "CASI, MMSE, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Contrast Sensitivity, Diffusion Tensor MRI (ADC), Serum BDNF & alpha1-ACT", "keyFinding": "Significant improvements in CASI, MMSE, and IADL scores from baseline, improved contrast sensitivity, preserved white-matter tract diffusivity (ADC) in arcuate and parahippocampal fasciculi, and favorable BDNF and amyloid-beta biomarker profiles vs. placebo.", "pmid": "32581767", "pmcid": "PMC7283924", "doi": "10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32581767/" }, { "id": "docherty-2023", "authors": "Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF", "year": 2023, "title": "The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Parallel Groups, Pilot Study", "journal": "Nutrients", "volume": "15(22):4842", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled)", "domain": "Focus, Executive Speed & Stress", "population": "Healthy young adults aged 18-45", "sampleSize": 41, "dailyDoseMg": 1800, "preparation": "3 x 600 mg capsules/day Hericium erinaceus fruiting body extract", "durationWeeks": 4, "primaryEndpoint": "Stroop TaskReaction Time (Acute 60m post-dose) & Subjective Stress Score (Day 29)", "keyFinding": "Significantly faster performance on the Stroop task at 60 minutes post-dose (p = 0.005) and a trend toward reduced subjective psychological stress after 28 days of supplementation (p = 0.051).", "pmid": "38004235", "pmcid": "PMC10675414", "doi": "10.3390/nu15224842", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38004235/" }, { "id": "nagano-2010", "authors": "Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Hayashi C, Sato D, Kitagawa K, Ohnuki K", "year": 2010, "title": "Reduction of depression and anxiety by 4 weeks Hericium erinaceus intake", "journal": "Biomedical Research (Tokyo)", "volume": "31(4):231-237", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, placebo-controlled)", "domain": "Mood, Stress & Sleep", "population": "Women (mean age 41.3 +/- 5.6 years) reporting mood, sleep, or menopausal symptoms", "sampleSize": 30, "dailyDoseMg": 2000, "preparation": "2,000 mg/day Hericium erinaceus fruiting body powder (0.5 g per cookie x 4 daily)", "durationWeeks": 4, "primaryEndpoint": "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Indefinite Complaints Index (ICI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)", "keyFinding": "Significant reductions in CES-D depressive symptom scores and ICI 'irritating', 'anxious', and 'palpitation' subscores, with improved concentration and emotional stability.", "pmid": "20834180", "doi": "10.2220/biomedres.31.231", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/" }, { "id": "vigna-2019", "authors": "Vigna L, Morelli F, Agnelli GM, Napolitano F, Ratto D, Occhinegro A, Di Iorio C, Savino E, Girometta C, Brandalise F, Rossi P", "year": 2019, "title": "Hericium erinaceus Improves Mood and Sleep Disorders in Patients Affected by Overweight or Obesity: Could Circulating Pro-BDNF and BDNF Be Potential Biomarkers?", "journal": "Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine", "volume": "2019:7861297", "studyType": "Human Clinical Trial (Controlled intervention with biomarker profiling)", "domain": "Mood, Sleep & BDNF Biomarkers", "population": "Adults with overweight/obesity and mood or sleep disorders", "sampleSize": 77, "dailyDoseMg": 1650, "preparation": "3 x 550 mg capsules/day (80% bulk mycelium + 20% fruiting body extract)", "durationWeeks": 8, "primaryEndpoint": "SCL-90 Depression/Anxiety/Sleep subscales, BES, and serum pro-BDNF / mature BDNF", "keyFinding": "Reduced depression by 34.9% and anxiety by 49.6%, improved nocturnal sleep quality (maintained at 8-week washout), and significantly increased circulating pro-BDNF and pro-BDNF/BDNF ratio.", "pmid": "31118969", "pmcid": "PMC6500611", "doi": "10.1155/2019/7861297", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31118969/" }, { "id": "bizjak-2024", "authors": "Cernelic Bizjak M, Jenko Praznikar Z, Kenig S, Hladnik M, Bandelj D, Gregoric M, Petelin A", "year": 2024, "title": "Effect of erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus supplementation on cognition: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study", "journal": "Journal of Functional Foods", "volume": "115:106120", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study)", "domain": "Cognition & BDNF Biomarkers", "population": "Healthy older adults aged 55-75", "sampleSize": 33, "dailyDoseMg": 2000, "preparation": "2,000 mg/day Hericium erinaceus supplement", "durationWeeks": 8, "primaryEndpoint": "Cognitive test battery, serum BDNF, and gut-brain axis markers", "keyFinding": "Demonstrated age-dependent improvements in cognitive test performance and neurotrophic biomarker modulation over 8 weeks of 2,000 mg/day intake.", "pmid": null, "doi": "10.1016/j.jff.2024.106120", "pubmedUrl": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106120" }, { "id": "surendran-2025", "authors": "Surendran G, Saye J, Binti Mohd Jalil S, et al.", "year": 2025, "title": "Acute effects of a standardised extract of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane mushroom) on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study", "journal": "Frontiers in Nutrition", "volume": "12:1405271", "studyType": "Human RCT (Double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled acute trial)", "domain": "Focus, Executive Speed & Stress", "population": "Healthy young adults", "sampleSize": 18, "dailyDoseMg": 3000, "preparation": "Single acute 3,000 mg dose (3:1 dual fruiting body extract)", "durationWeeks": 0.1, "primaryEndpoint": "Acute cognitive battery and mood 90-180 min post-ingestion", "keyFinding": "Single acute fruiting-body dose showed task-specific motor dexterity effects without broad acute stimulant changes at 90-180 min, reinforcing that Hericium erinaceus acts primarily via chronic cumulative neurotrophic remodeling (4-16 weeks).", "pmid": "40276537", "doi": "10.3389/fnut.2025.1405271", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40276537/" }, { "id": "martinez-marmol-2023", "authors": "Martinez-Marmol R, Chai Y, Conroy JN, Khan Z, Hong SM, Kim SB, Gormal RS, Lee DH, Lee JK, Coulson EJ, Lee MK, Kim SY, Meunier FA", "year": 2023, "title": "Hericerin derivatives activates a pan-neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1/2 signaling enhancing spatial memory", "journal": "Journal of Neurochemistry", "volume": "165(6):791-808", "studyType": "Preclinical & Mechanistic (University of Queensland)", "domain": "NGF / BDNF Mechanisms", "population": "Primary rat hippocampal neurons & murine recognition/spatial memory models", "sampleSize": null, "dailyDoseMg": null, "preparation": "Purified N-de-phenylethyl isohericerin (NDPIH) and Hericerin A from Hericium erinaceus", "durationWeeks": 4, "primaryEndpoint": "Hippocampal axon elongation, growth cone size, TrkB/ERK1/2 activation, Y-maze & novel object recognition", "keyFinding": "Demonstrated potent hippocampal neurite outgrowth and branching in the absence of serum, activating a pan-neurotrophic BDNF/TrkB-convergent ERK1/2 cascade and significantly improving spatial and recognition memory in vivo.", "pmid": "36660878", "doi": "10.1111/jnc.15767", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36660878/" }, { "id": "mori-2008", "authors": "Mori K, Obara Y, Hirota M, Azumi Y, Kinugasa S, Inatomi S, Nakahata N", "year": 2008, "title": "Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells", "journal": "Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin", "volume": "31(9):1727-1732", "studyType": "Mechanistic / Cellular Neurobiology", "domain": "NGF / BDNF Mechanisms", "population": "1321N1 human astrocytoma cells & PC12 neurite differentiation assay", "sampleSize": null, "dailyDoseMg": null, "preparation": "Ethanolic extract of Hericium erinaceus fruiting bodies", "durationWeeks": null, "primaryEndpoint": "NGF mRNA expression, NGF protein secretion, and JNK/c-Jun phosphorylation", "keyFinding": "Directly upregulated NGF gene expression and NGF protein secretion in human astrocytoma cells via c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, driving neurite outgrowth.", "pmid": "18758067", "doi": "10.1248/bpb.31.1727", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18758067/" }, { "id": "tsai-teng-2016", "authors": "Tsai-Teng T, Chin-Chu C, Li-Ya L, Wan-Ping C, Chung-Kuang L, Chien-Chang S, Chi-Ying HF, Chien-Chih C, Shiao YJ", "year": 2016, "title": "Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus mycelium ameliorates Alzheimer's disease-related pathologies in APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice", "journal": "Journal of Biomedical Science", "volume": "23(1):49", "studyType": "Preclinical In Vivo Neuroprotection", "domain": "NGF / BDNF Mechanisms", "population": "APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic Alzheimer's model mice", "sampleSize": null, "dailyDoseMg": null, "preparation": "Erinacine A-enriched Hericium erinaceus (300 mg/kg/day)", "durationWeeks": 4, "primaryEndpoint": "Amyloid-beta plaque burden, Insulin-Degrading Enzyme (IDE), NGF/proNGF ratio, hippocampal neurogenesis (BrdU+)", "keyFinding": "Reduced cerebral amyloid-beta plaque burden, elevated IDE levels, increased mature NGF-to-proNGF ratio, reduced reactive gliosis, and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and nest-building behavior.", "pmid": "27350344", "pmcid": "PMC4924315", "doi": "10.1186/s12929-016-0266-z", "pubmedUrl": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27350344/" } ] }