A new study in the January 2023 Journal of Neurochemistry shows unique compounds in Lion’s Mane mushroom extract boost memory by boosting nerve growth.

The study identified two bioactive compounds, N-de phenylethyl isohericerin and Hericene A, that appear to regulate the growth of neurons that improve memory.

The extracts had a “clear neurotrophic effect,” they write, resulting in doubly long axons – the threadlike links that conduct impulses away from a neuron – and more than triple the number of neurites, or small projections from a neuron that can grow into fully functional axons or dendrites.

“Laboratory tests measured the neurotrophic effects of compounds isolated from Hericium erinaceus on cultured brain cells, and surprisingly we found that the active compounds promote neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons,” Meunier says.

Researchers describe the compounds present in Lion’s Mane mushrooms as potent memory enhancers that may provide hope for natural memory enhancement for an aging population. Read more from University of Queensland researchers.