As women navigate the hormonal shifts of perimenopause, many experience changes in cognitive function, including memory. While these changes are a normal part of this life stage, understanding potential ways to support brain health is a common interest. Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) has garnered attention for its potential neurosupportive properties.
This article will explore the concept of the cholinergic system and discuss the limited, early-stage research on how lion’s mane might interact with this system, potentially offering support for memory. It’s important to remember that most studies on this topic have been conducted in animal or in vitro models, and human evidence, particularly for perimenopausal women, is very limited.
Understanding the Cholinergic System and Memory
The cholinergic system is a vital network in the brain that uses acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, to transmit signals. This system plays a crucial role in various cognitive functions, including learning, memory, and attention. Healthy cholinergic activity is essential for the brain’s ability to form new memories and retrieve existing ones. Disruptions to this system are often associated with cognitive decline.
In perimenopause, fluctuating hormone levels, particularly estrogen, can influence neurotransmitter systems, including the cholinergic system. While the exact mechanisms are complex and still being researched, some women report experiencing ‘brain fog’ or changes in memory during this time, which may be related to these hormonal shifts and their impact on brain chemistry.
Lion’s Mane and Cholinergic Support: Early Research
Research into lion’s mane mushroom’s potential effects on the cholinergic system is primarily based on animal studies. Several studies have investigated its impact in models designed to simulate cognitive impairments. For instance, an ethanolic extract of Hericium erinaceus demonstrated antioxidant properties and showed potential in addressing scopolamine-induced memory deficits in a zebrafish model of cognitive impairment [1]. Scopolamine is often used in research to induce temporary memory impairment by interfering with cholinergic activity.
Similarly, a study on male rats explored the neuroprotective effects of Hericium erinaceus in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer’s disease-like symptoms, suggesting a potential interaction with pathways relevant to cognitive function [2]. Another study involving mice found that a mixture containing Hericium erinaceus fruit extract attenuated scopolamine-induced memory impairments [3]. These findings, while promising, are from animal models and do not directly translate to human experience.
Further animal research has explored lion’s mane in other contexts related to cognitive health. For example, Hericium erinaceus extracts showed neuroprotective effects in the mouse hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus [4]. Another study in mice indicated effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits [5]. While these studies don’t directly focus on the cholinergic system in perimenopause, they contribute to the broader understanding of lion’s mane’s potential neurosupportive properties.
Mechanisms of Action: What the Research Suggests
While the precise mechanisms are still being elucidated, the early research suggests that lion’s mane may support brain health through various pathways, some of which could indirectly benefit the cholinergic system. For example, the antioxidant properties observed in some extracts of Hericium erinaceus [1] could help protect brain cells from oxidative stress, which is a factor in cognitive decline and can impact neurotransmitter systems.
The potential for lion’s mane to attenuate memory impairments in models where cholinergic function is disrupted [PMID 35126824, PMID 34204787, PMID 38990419] suggests an interaction, either direct or indirect, with cholinergic pathways. However, it is important to emphasize that these are early findings, and more specific research is needed to understand how lion’s mane might influence acetylcholine production, release, or receptor function in the human brain, particularly in the context of perimenopause.
Limited Human Evidence and Future Directions
Currently, direct human studies investigating lion’s mane’s specific impact on the cholinergic system in perimenopausal women are very limited. While a future double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study is planned to assess the acute effects of a standardized extract of Hericium erinaceus on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults [6], this does not directly address the perimenopausal population or the cholinergic system specifically.
The existing evidence, primarily from animal models, suggests a potential area for further investigation. Future research would ideally focus on human clinical trials, specifically including perimenopausal women, to explore if and how lion’s mane may support the cholinergic system and memory during this life stage. Understanding optimal dosages, long-term effects, and individual variability will be crucial.
References
- Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers. Ethanolic Extract with Antioxidant Properties on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Deficits in a Zebrafish Model of Cognitive Impairment. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland), 2021
- Neuroprotective Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Hericium erinaceus in Scopolamine-induced Alzheimer’s Diseases-like Symptoms in Male Rats. Cell biochemistry and biophysics, 2024
- A Mixture of Ginkgo biloba L. Leaf and Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers. Fruit Extract Attenuates Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairments in Mice. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2022
- The Neuroprotective Effect of Hericium erinaceus Extracts in Mouse Hippocampus after Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus. International journal of molecular sciences, 2019
- Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β(25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan), 2011
- Acute effects of a standardised extract of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane mushroom) on cognition and mood in healthy younger adults: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study. Frontiers in nutrition, 2025
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