If you care for a parent, spouse, aunt, uncle, or grandparent with Alzheimer’s, you may have heard about lion’s mane as a helpful supplement. Studies suggest that lion’s mane might help protect the brain’s neurons, supporting memory, brain function, and decision-making. While lion’s mane is not a proven treatment for Alzheimer’s, there is growing scientific interest in its neurological and physical benefits.
What Is Lion’s Mane?
Lion’s mane is a type of mushroom that contains bioactive compounds that can potentially benefit the body, especially the brain. This white, shaggy fungus is edible and medicinal, and it’s common in traditional Chinese medicine.
How Does Lion’s Mane Work?
Lion’s mane is believed to have so many medicinal properties because of these compounds:
- Hericenones and erinacines: The lion’s mane mushroom’s potential brain-health benefits are mainly due to hericenones and erinacines and the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). NGF promotes brain cell growth and protection, supporting functions such as memory, decision-making, language, and thinking.
- Polysaccharides: Polysaccharides are believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and support the immune system. They may also reduce inflammation in the brain, which could slow Alzheimer’s symptoms.
- Sterols: The sterols in lion’s mane might have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, helping individuals prevent illness.
- Phenolic compounds: Phenolic compounds often have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect cells from oxidative stress.
Can Lion’s Mane Mushrooms Help With Alzheimer’s?
While it’s not a cure, evidence suggests that lion’s mane might help individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia protect mental functioning and slow memory loss. To understand how you can use lion’s mane for dementia, it’s important to learn what it can potentially do for the brain and body.
What Does Lion’s Mane Do for Individuals With Alzheimer’s or Dementia?
Lion’s mane may help offer your loved one support for their cognitive functioning. Animal and small-scale human studies suggest that lion’s mane might slow the damage that Alzheimer’s causes in the brain. This is mainly due to the erinacines and hericenones in lion’s mane that may help stimulate brain cell growth, potentially protecting memory, thinking, decision-making, and emotions.
Lion’s mane’s benefits have not been proven and require larger-scale human trials to verify its effectiveness, but there is hope in its potential. Many professionals are optimistic about its properties to ease symptoms or delay the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s, possibly offering these benefits:
- Neuron protection: Lion’s mane may prevent plaques from damaging neurons in the brain. When a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-beta plaques accumulate in their brain and prevent neurons from communicating with each other. Researchers believe that ingesting lion’s mane may reduce or slow these plaques from impacting memory, thinking, and emotions.
- Memory: Studies have revealed that lion’s mane reduces symptoms of memory loss in mice. This means that it may also support humans’ ability to hold onto their short- and long-term memory for longer, though further tests are needed.
- Stress reduction and mental clarity: A small study revealed that lion’s mane may improve the brain’s performance speed and reduce stress. Researchers performed this study on healthy young adults, so more research is needed to determine how well lion’s mane reduces stress in older adults. However, you might find that the mushroom promotes feelings of calmness and mental clarity in your loved one.
Additional Lion’s Mane Benefits
Lion’s mane may also support overall health and well-being with these potential benefits:
- Antioxidant properties: Some researchers believe lion’s mane may fight against free radicals, helping protect cells from inflammation and damage.
- Anti-cancer properties: Researchers have mixed lion’s mane with human cancer cells and noted the cancer cells dying faster. Other studies revealed lion’s mane slowing tumor growth in mice. This suggests that lion’s mane may have anti-cancer properties that can help slow or fight the progression of certain cancers.
- Bacterial resistance: Lion’s mane has demonstrated various antimicrobial properties and antibacterial activity, suggesting that it may help prevent or fight certain bacterial infections.
The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of lion’s mane may contribute directly to overall neurological wellness. Fighting off bacteria and protecting cells from inflammation can keep brain cells healthier for longer.
How to Use Lion’s Mane
Lion’s mane is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so the quality and purity of lion’s mane can vary. Use the following tips to introduce it into your loved one’s diet safely:
- Consult with their care provider: As with any supplement, it’s important to consult with your loved one’s doctor before encouraging your loved one to consume it. This is especially important if they have pre-existing conditions.
- Choose a form your loved one is comfortable with: Lion’s mane comes in several forms. You can mix powders or liquid extracts into smoothies, stir them into tea, or give your loved one gummies or capsules, depending on their preferences. You can also cook lion’s mane mushrooms into various dishes or hearty stews.
- Start with small doses: Starting small helps you see how lion’s mane affects your loved one. Since the FDA does not regulate lion’s mane, doses are not standardized. Talk to a care provider to determine a safe dose or amount to start with, and go from there if you start to notice benefits.
- Watch for potential side effects: Your loved one should stop using lion’s mane if they experience any allergic reactions or side effects such as breathing challenges, rashes, stomach discomfort, nausea, or diarrhea. Lion’s mane can also lower blood sugar and slow blood clotting, so talk to a doctor before introducing it if your loved one has diabetes or takes blood thinning medication.
Building a Complete Circle of Care at Home
Alzheimer’s care goes beyond a single supplement and requires comprehensive, holistic support. While supplements can be a helpful piece of the puzzle, what really matters is safety and comfort. You can enhance your loved one’s well-being with a multifaceted care plan that provides:
- Social interaction
- A safe environment
- Consistent daily routines
Support Your Loved One’s Well-Being With Relevar Home Care
Relevar Home Care provides professional in-home support for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Our team is passionate about helping your family manage your loved one’s exact needs and thrive at home for as long as possible through specialized Private Duty Home Care services, companionship and assistance with daily routines.
Our compassionate caregivers partner with you to give your loved one a high quality of life where they feel safest and most comfortable. How can Relevar Home Care make a difference in your loved one’s life? Contact us to learn more.