Effects of Lion's Mane on memory

In a recent article published in the journal Nutrients, researchers assess the effects of AmaTea® Max (AMT) and Nordic Lion's Mane (LM) on subjective cognitive perception and objective cognitive performance.

AMT is made from Guayusa tea extract, which naturally grows in parts of the upper Amazon basin and is generally considered safe (GRAS) for consumption. AMT consists of various other compounds, including methylxanthines, phenols, chlorogenic acids, and terpenoids.

Guayusa tea leaves are known for their stimulating and antioxidant properties. The caffeine component within these leaves enhances cognition and mood by blocking adenosine receptors in dopamine-rich areas of the brain, which increases brain alertness, activity, and processing potential. Likewise, chlorogenic acids in Guayusa tea improve executive function and psychomotor speed; however, their mechanism of action is unclear.

LM originates from an edible mushroom, Hericium erinaceus, and is also a GRAS food. LM primarily consists of compounds that confer protective effects on cognition and are generally neuroprotective, such as phenols, β-glucan polysaccharides, sterols, and myconutrients.

Some of the different compounds present in H. erinaceus have been shown to prevent and delay neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). H. erinaceus compounds are also associated with neurotrophic and anticarcinogenic effects.
A total of 40 people between 18 and 50 years of age were included in the study, 22 of whom were women and 18 were men. Study participants had a body mass index (BMI) ranging between 18.5 and 39.9 and were habitual coffee drinkers who consumed caffeine in moderate amounts of 240 mg or less each day.AMT markedly improved cognitive performance and perceptions of happiness over two hours post-ingestion. Comparatively, the continuous intake of LM improved working memory, complex attention, reaction time, and perceptions of happiness.
Future studies should utilize electroencephalography (EEG)-correlated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to gain additional insights into the observed cognitive improvements associated with AMT and LM supplementation.