Medicinal mushrooms show hope for brain disease

Recent scientific research has shown that certain edible and drug fungi contain powerful biologically active compounds that can alter treatments for central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

A comprehensive review published in the Journal of Food Science highlights how mushrooms such as lion’s mane, Reishi and Cordyceps provide innovative treatments for diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression and stroke. As central nervous system diseases continue to grow globally, these findings force people to urgently need safer and more effective treatment options.

Natural compounds target multiple brain pathways

What is particularly valuable in the treatment of brain diseases is their multi-target approach. Unlike conventional drugs that usually target a single mechanism, mushroom compounds work simultaneously through several complementary pathways.

This review identifies four key mechanisms that these fungi have the potential to benefit brain health:

• Reduce neuroinflammation, a common feature of most CNS diseases
• Enhance the body’s natural antioxidant defense ability to oxidative stress
• Prevent excessive neuronal cell death (anti-apoptotic effects)
• Actively regulate the gut microbiome, which affects brain function through the gut axis

“The incidence of CNS disease has been increasing in recent years due to the acceleration of the global aging process and the growing demand for life and work,” notes the research team led by Xiaojin Liu of Zhang and Jianya Ling.

Specific mushrooms show targeted benefits

This review highlights several mushroom varieties and is particularly promising for applications in specific central nervous system diseases. Hericium Erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) has potential for diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and depression in several studies.

For example, researchers found that lion’s milk fiber is rich in Erinacine A demonstrated the role of antidepressants by “recovering monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, inhibiting plasma proinflammatory cytokines, and regulating phospholipid phosphatidylinositol-3-protein-genase (PI3K)/prot kineinkinsase-glycanse-glycanse-glycanse-kinnibase-glycanse-kinnibase-glycanse-kinnibase-glycanse-kinnibase-glycanse-kinnibase-kinnibase-kinnien-kinn 3 3) (GSK-3β) pathway and increasing BDNF expression.”

Meanwhile, Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) extract showed protective effects in Parkinson’s disease models by “promoting activation of the AMPK/MTOR/ULK1 and PINK1/PARKIN pathways”, which helped protect neuronal cells and alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegradable diseases.

From traditional medicine to modern applications

Many of these fungi have been used in traditional medical systems for thousands of years, especially in Asia. What is changing is our scientific understanding of how their biologically active compounds work at the molecular and cellular levels.

Researchers have identified several key categories responsible for these beneficial effects, including:

Polysaccharides – Complex sugar molecules with immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties
Triterpenes – Compounds with effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities
Alkaloids – Nitrogen-containing compounds that can affect neurotransmitter systems
Phenol compounds – a strong antioxidant that helps protect neurons from oxidative damage

The safety of these natural compounds is particularly attractive. Most medicinal mushrooms have been consumed as food for centuries, suggesting a lower risk of adverse reactions compared to synthetic drugs.

Real-world applications

How do these findings translate into practical applications? The study proposes several approaches, including the development of standardized extracts as drugs, incorporating them into functional foods and the creation of nutritional supplements.

Some products have attracted consumers. Lion’s mane supplements have become popular for cognitive support, and Cordyceps extracts for its neuroprotective effects are being studied after stroke.

Challenges and future directions

Although the results are promising, there are still obstacles before medicinal mushrooms can become mainstream central nervous system treatment. The researchers identified several major challenges that need to be addressed:

“Standardized preparation of bioactive ingredients, customized therapeutic dose optimization and long-term safety verification all require systematic research,” the authors explained.

Another major challenge involves determining which mushroom compound can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier to reach target tissue in the central nervous system.

Can mushrooms ultimately provide a breakthrough treatment for long-depressed medical diseases? This is a question worth exploring when traditional knowledge is in line with modern analytical techniques.

It seems increasingly clear that fungi that quietly evolved complex biochemical defense capabilities over millions of years may provide solutions to some of our most challenging health problems. For patients and families affected by central nervous system diseases, this emerging field of research provides promising new directions for the possibility of treatment.