If you’re interested enough in mushrooms to find yourself subscribed to this newsletter, you likely already know there’s considerable evidence that lion’s mane is the ultimate brain-boosting 'shroom. A new study published recently in the Journal of Neurochemistry further proves this form of fungi improves cognition and enhances memory via specific compounds it contains.

"Extracts from lion's mane mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine in Asian countries for centuries, but we wanted to scientifically determine their potential effect on brain cells," says the study’s lead author and Queensland Brain Institute researcher Frédéric Meunier.

The compounds in question are N-de phenylethyl isohericerin and hericene A, both of which were isolated for the study and tested on cultured neurons from rat embryos. The results demonstrate clear benefits to the brain. “Pre-clinical testing found the lion’s mane mushroom had a significant impact on the growth of brain cells and improving memory,” Meunier says.

These results suggest the two brain-boosting compounds in lion’s mane mushrooms could serve as promising treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. They also serve as further evidence that, as we like to say here at Shroomboom, “A lion’s mane a day keeps memory loss at bay,” or that it can’t hurt your brain health to add some of this 'shroom into your daily diet or supplement routine. Shop some of our favorite ways to do so below.

Six Lion's Mane Mushroom Products That'll Boost Your Brainpower