Evidence Level
Moderate
Lion's mane has a growing body of clinical evidence supporting its nootropic and neuroprotective properties. The landmark 2009 Mori et al. trial demonstrated statistically significant cognitive improvement in older adults with mild cognitive impairment after 16 weeks of supplementation. Lai et al. (2013) confirmed neurotrophic properties in vitro, showing lion's mane extract stimulates NGF synthesis. A 2019 study by Saitsu et al. found that oral intake of Hericium erinaceus improved cognitive function scores in healthy adults, extending the evidence beyond impaired populations.