Lion's Mane
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a dietary supplement with 7 published peer-reviewed studies involving 320 participants, researched for Cognitive Enhancement (Healthy Adults), Mild Cognitive Impairment & Alzheimer's Disease, Mood, Anxiety & Depression and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Cognitive Enhancement (Healthy Adults)
ModerateMild Cognitive Impairment & Alzheimer's Disease
StrongMood, Anxiety & Depression
ModerateSystematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Cognitive Enhancement (Healthy Adults)
To investigate effects of Lion's Mane on cognitive processing speed and stress in healthy adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, parallel-groups
Purpose
To investigate effects of Lion's Mane on cognitive processing speed and stress in healthy adults.
Dose
1.8 g/day (three 600 mg capsules)
Participants
41 healthy adults aged 18-45 years
Duration
28 days
Results
A single dose improved Stroop task reaction time (p=0.005). After 28 days of supplementation, there was a trend toward reduced subjective stress (p=0.051), suggesting Lion's Mane may improve processing speed acutely and reduce stress with chronic use.
How They Measured It
Stroop task reaction time, Stress Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
To evaluate Lion's Mane effects on cognitive function in healthy older adults.
Study Type
Randomised, open-label cognitive assessment
Purpose
To evaluate Lion's Mane effects on cognitive function in healthy older adults.
Dose
3.2 g/day powdered fruiting body
Participants
52 healthy adults aged 50 years and above
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Significant improvement on MMSE scores. Effects persisted at a 4-week follow-up assessment after cessation of supplementation, suggesting lasting cognitive benefit.
How They Measured It
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Mild Cognitive Impairment & Alzheimer's Disease
To investigate whether Lion's Mane supplementation improves cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate whether Lion's Mane supplementation improves cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Dose
3 g/day (four 250 mg tablets three times daily)
Participants
50 adults aged 50-80 years with mild cognitive impairment
Duration
16 weeks
Results
Significant improvement on the HDS-R cognitive scale. Improvements were observed at weeks 8, 12, and 16, and were sustained at a 4-week post-cessation follow-up. Scores declined when supplementation stopped, suggesting an ongoing need for supplementation.
How They Measured It
Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R)
To evaluate the effects of erinacine A-enriched Lion's Mane mycelium on cognition and daily functioning in mild Alzheimer's disease.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To evaluate the effects of erinacine A-enriched Lion's Mane mycelium on cognition and daily functioning in mild Alzheimer's disease.
Dose
1.05 g/day (three 350 mg capsules, 5 mg/g erinacine A)
Participants
70 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease
Duration
49 weeks
Results
Significant improvement on MMSE scores at week 49. Participants also showed improved IADL scores, indicating reduced daily living dependence. The erinacine A-enriched preparation showed benefits over a longer period than most previous studies.
How They Measured It
MMSE, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
Mood, Anxiety & Depression
To investigate the effects of Lion's Mane on depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in menopausal women.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Lion's Mane on depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in menopausal women.
Dose
2 g/day (0.5 g per cookie, four cookies daily)
Participants
30 menopausal women
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Significant reductions in both depression and anxiety scores compared to placebo. Sleep disorder scores also improved significantly. Results suggest Lion's Mane may support mood and sleep quality in menopausal women.
How They Measured It
Depression and anxiety rating scales, sleep disorder scores
To evaluate Lion's Mane effects on depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and BDNF levels in overweight adults.
Study Type
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled with dietary intervention
Purpose
To evaluate Lion's Mane effects on depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and BDNF levels in overweight adults.
Dose
550 mg/day (80% bulk mycelia, 20% fruiting body extract)
Participants
77 overweight and obese adults
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Reduced depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder scores compared to placebo. Circulating pro-BDNF levels increased significantly, and mood improvements were correlated with BDNF elevation. Results suggest Lion's Mane has antidepressant properties possibly mediated through neurotrophic factor stimulation.
How They Measured It
Depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder scores; plasma pro-BDNF levels
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
To review evidence for cognitive enhancement effects of Lion's Mane in healthy and cognitively impaired populations.
Study Type
Systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Purpose
To review evidence for cognitive enhancement effects of Lion's Mane in healthy and cognitively impaired populations.
Dose
Variable (1.8-3.2 g/day across included studies)
Participants
Multiple RCTs reviewed
Duration
Varied (12-49 weeks across included studies)
Results
Consistent evidence for memory and cognitive processing improvements across included RCTs. Most evidence was in older adults and those with cognitive decline. Erinacines and hericenones identified as primary neuroprotective compounds promoting NGF synthesis. Limited data available for young healthy cohorts.
How They Measured It
Review of RCT outcomes across multiple cognitive assessment tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Lion's Mane research
There are currently 7 peer-reviewed studies on Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus), involving 320 total participants. Research covers Cognitive function, Memory enhancement, Mood and anxiety and 2 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (6 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Lion's Mane has been researched for: Cognitive function, Memory enhancement, Mood and anxiety, Neuroprotection, Mild cognitive impairment. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 6 out of 7 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
