Does Lion’s Mane Help Memory, Focus & Clarity?

• Published October 15, 2025

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Market researchers say consumers are increasingly opting for natural food products. Lion’s Mane is one such edible item that has been used for hundreds of years in Asian and Native American medicine in the belief that it supports good health in many ways. Today, there is growing clinical evidence that Lion’s Mane does offer wellness benefits. Called a “brain food,” Lion’s Mane supplement effects potentially include improved focus and mental clarity.

What is Lion’s Mane?

Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus), a large mushroom that thrives on dead hardwood trees, is named for its unique appearance. Its long, draping white spines resemble a lion’s shaggy mane. These mushrooms are not only eaten raw and used in recipes but also sold as health supplements.

Research has shown that individuals taking Lion’s Mane extract for brain health may experience significant improvements in mental clarity, memory, and focus, highlighting its potential cognitive benefits.

How Lion’s Mane May Help Memory, Focus, and Clarity

Lion’s Mane has many bioactive compounds. It is believed to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, among other benefits. There is also research demonstrating the potential of Lion’s Mane mushroom cognitive benefits.

The bioactive compounds in Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) include phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and the terpenoids hericenones and erinacines. Accumulating research suggests that terpenoids can cross the blood-brain barrier and are believed to deliver powerful neuroprotective benefits, including promoting nerve growth in the brain and improving the brain region where memories are processed. Lion’s Mane also supports neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to restructure its physical makeup to form new nerve connections that overcome damaged nerves.

Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested Lion’s Mane may deliver neuroprotection by increasing the levels of the nerve growth factor (NGF). The NGF molecules are proteins essential for the growth of neurons, enabling the brain to form new nerve connections (neurogenesis).

Lion’s Mane may also increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels. BDNFs are neurotrophins essential to nerve health in the brain areas involved in long-term memory and learning.

Current Research Findings

Does Lion’s Mane improve focus? Should you take Lion’s Mane for memory support? The neuroprotective benefits of improved memory, focus, and clarity are believed to be due to Lion Mane’s active components that act on the brain. The research is limited, but there is growing interest in the potential of the mushroom extract to improve a variety of mental processes, including speed of learning, memory, mental clarity, and focus.

The following are some of the most current research findings involving Lion’s Mane and its biologically active compounds.

1. One study specifically focused on isolating the compounds in hericenones and erinacines found in Lion’s Mane to determine their effects on NGF. The researchers found the compounds promote the synthesis and secretion of NGF.

2. A 2023 study identified new active compounds in H. erinaceus that can promote neuron outgrowth and branching. The researchers said that the Lion’s Mane extract’s ability to increase neuron projections and connections could eventually lead to utilizing the bioactive compounds to regulate neuron growth and improve memory.

3. Researchers studied the effect of the active Lion’s Mane compound erinacine C on the brain’s immune response to disease, injury, or infection. Chronic nerve stress will eventually damage healthy brain cells and lead to cognitive impairment. The study found that erinacine C worked to calm these harmful processes.

4. A placebo-controlled study on the effects of Lion’s Mane on mild cognitive impairment was performed with participants aged 50-80 years. The test group took four 250 mg tablets containing 96% Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane), three times a day for 16 weeks. During the 16 weeks, the participants showed significantly improved scores on the cognitive test scale. After the study concluded at week four, the cognitive gains were significantly decreased.

5. A placebo-controlled study studied the effects on people with some loss of cognitive functioning when they took a supplement with H. erinaceus for 12 weeks. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) found that oral intake of the supplement significantly improved cognitive functioning and prevented deterioration.

6. A study investigated the acute and chronic effects of Lion’s Mane Mushroom supplementation on the cognitive functioning and mood of 41 healthy people aged 18-45 years. They took a dose of 1.8 grams of Lion’s Mane each day for 28 days. The researchers reported that a single dose led to faster performance on a Stroop task (psychological test) 60 minutes after the dose. After 28 days, some participants reported experiencing reduced mental discomfort.

7. An animal study researched the effects of H. erinaceus on learning and memory deficits. Mice were first given amyloid peptides because amyloid plaque buildup is common in people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. After 23 days of being fed a diet containing Lion’s Mane, memory and learning were not impaired despite being given the amyloid peptide.

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A comprehensive review of numerous preclinical models on the role of erinacines in promoting the neuroprotective effects of Lion’s Mane found that erinacines did have neuroprotective, neurotrophic, and antioxidant effects.

Side Effects

Lion’s Mane is generally considered safe to take based on research. It has not been linked to any serious effects. It is well tolerated, and the only reported side effects to date have been mild:

• Nausea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Skin Rash

Lion’s Mane should not be combined with antidiabetic medications. Animal studies have found that Lion’s Mane may reduce the levels of blood glucose. As a result, supplementation may interfere with diabetes medications.

Also, Lion’s Mane may cause blood thinning. If taking a blood thinner, avoid taking Lion’s Mane. Combining Lion’s Mane with anticoagulant medication could increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.

If pregnant or nursing, it is recommended to avoid taking Lion’s Mane. There is currently no research available on potential risks; therefore, this is a cautionary recommendation. Of course, if allergic to mushrooms, do not take Lion’s Mane.

Best Way to Take Lion’s Mane

There are no medically recommended dosage amounts of Lion’s Mane supplementation. Lion’s Mane supplements will have a recommended dosage on the label. It is important to follow the recommended dosage and assess the effects.

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Lion’s Mane supplements typically have a recommended dosage of 500 mg to 3,000 mg.

Lion’s Mane is often combined with other natural compounds that support memory, focus, and mental clarity. For example, CBD oil or CBD gummies may contain Lion’s Mane extract to promote improved cognitive health. The amount of Lion’s Mane per serving in CBD products could be an amount like 33.33 mg, 500 mg, or as much as 1200 mg.

Multiple clinical studies have found that taking Lion’s Mane regularly is essential for maintaining the continued effects. The effects quickly end when stopping consumption.

Natural Health Support

Taking Lion’s Mane for mental clarity has garnered the interest of scientists due to its long history in traditional and complementary medicine. As the body of research grows, it is showing that Lion’s Mane has strong potential to offer a natural product that promotes nerve growth, protects against neuroinflammation, and enhances neuroplasticity. Improving brain health naturally leads to improved cognitive functioning. Although more research is needed, taking natural supplements for mental clarity, such as Lion’s Mane, appears to be a safe and natural way to support the brain.

Sources

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12030463/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/
3. Friedman, M. Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s mane) mushroom fruiting bodies and mycelia and their bioactive compounds. J Agric Food Chem. (2015) 63:7108–23. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b02914
4. Ma, B-J, Shen, JW, Yu, HY, Ruan, Y, Wu, TT, and Zhao, X. Hericenones and erinacines: stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis in Hericium erinaceus. Mycology. (2010) 1:92–8. doi: 10.1080/21501201003735556
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10952766/#jnc15767-sec-0001
6. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960894X15301256
7. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jnc.15767
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9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/
10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31413233/
11. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10675414/#sec5-nutrients-15-04842
12. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biomedres/32/1/32_1_67/_article
13. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1582081/full#h4
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK599740/
15. Li IC, Chang HH, Lin CH, et al. Prevention of Early Alzheimer’s Disease by Erinacine A-Enriched Hericium erinaceus Mycelia Pilot Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2020;12:155. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2020.00155

About the Author

Michael Levin

Michael Levin is a hemp enthusiast, a researcher, writer and editor in the cannabis space, experienced CBD user and educator. He believes dietary supplements can help improve our overall health and wellbeing.

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