The science behind Lion's Manes proactive + reactive brain health benefits, explained.
Key Takeaways:
What are neurotrophic factors?
Proteins synthesized by the body that are critical for learning and memory. They create new brain cells that are more open, flexible, and communicative.
What affects my production of neurotrophic factors?
Your brain naturally generates them during exercise and other healthy, pleasurable activities that activate your serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, but stress and aging lead to a decrease in neurotrophic factors.
Does Lion's Mane help?
Lion's Mane, a nootropic adaptogenic mushroom, is studied to promote the synthesis of NGF and BDNF, two key neurotrophic factors.
Have you heard of neurotrophic factors?
Neurotrophic factors like Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors (BDNF) are key molecules involved in plastic changes related to learning and memory.
They are critical for regulating the creation, growth, and survival of new neurons, and invigorate nerve cells in three ways:
- They stimulate neurogenesis, the growth of new nerve cells from your own stem cells.
- They enhance neuroplasticity, your nervous system’s ability to reorganize your nerve pathways.
- They amplify synaptoplasticity, making new synaptic interconnections between neurons by encouraging them to grow new tendrils that reach out and make new connections with nearby nerve cells.
So, NGF and BDNF give you new brain cells that are more open, flexible, and communicative.
Your brain naturally generates NGF and BDNF during exercise and other healthy, pleasurable activities that activate your serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.
However, stress and aging lead to a decline in their production. Here's how Lion's Mane reverses the effects of stress and slows the effects of aging. After all, age is biological, not chronological.
Lion's Mane improves NGF and BDNF production.
An abundance of studies demonstrate Lion's Mane's ability to support BDNF and NGF production. Studies also show that Lion's Mane enhances mood, decreases anxiety, and improves sleep quality, cognition, and immunity.
Here's a summary of the active brain-boosting constituents in Lion's Mane, along with their studied properties.
| Bioactive Component | Target Process | Mechanism of Action |
|---|---|---|
| Polysaccharides | Antiaging | Enhance Neurite Growth |
| Hericenones & erinacines | Regeneration of nerves | Stimulated Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) production |
| Improvement in cognitive functions | Decrease in anxiety and an improvement in quality of sleep | |
| Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation | The improvement of antioxidant, mitochondrial function and anti-apoptosis |
Find neuroprotective + nootropic Lion's Mane in Brain Stack.
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