Mushrooms have long been used in various cultures for their medicinal properties. Recently, scientific research has begun to uncover the potential benefits of mushrooms on mood and cognitive health. This review systematically evaluates both epidemiological and clinical studies examining the role of mushrooms in enhancing neurocognition and mood across different age groups and health statuses. By understanding the bioactive compounds in mushrooms and their effects on the brain, we can better appreciate their potential as dietary supplements for improving mental health and cognitive functions.
Mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds such as vitamins, β-glucans, terpenoids, polyphenols, and sterols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds may confer neuroprotective benefits, potentially aiding in the prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases and mood disorders. The review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on the effects of mushrooms on neurocognitive health and mood.
Contents
Methods
Search Strategy
The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, ResearchGate, and Web of Science) were searched to identify studies investigating the impact of mushroom intake on neurocognitive health and mood. The search included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), pre-post studies, and epidemiological studies published before July 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
Studies were included if they examined the effects of edible mushrooms on cognitive functions such as memory, executive function, attention, visuospatial imagery, processing speed, problem-solving, or mood-related outcomes like depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Exclusions were made for narrative reviews, in vitro or animal studies, and non-publicly available publications.
Data Extraction
Data from eligible studies were extracted and categorized into intervention and epidemiological studies. The information included study design, participant characteristics, outcome measures, and key findings. The neurocognitive and psychological tests used were summarized using the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model to categorize the tasks based on the cognitive functions they measured.
Quality Assessment
The Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB2) was used to evaluate the quality of intervention studies, assessing biases related to sample randomization, deviations from interventions, missing outcome data, outcome measurements, and selection of reported results. Epidemiological studies were assessed using the National Institutes for Health (NIH) quality assessment tool, which rated studies as “good,” “fair,” or “poor” based on various methodological criteria.
Results
Study Selection
The search identified 1146 records, with 34 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These included 24 epidemiological studies and 10 intervention studies. The epidemiological studies primarily focused on Asian populations, examining the effects of mushroom intake as part of a vegetable-rich diet on cognitive and mood outcomes.
Epidemiological Studies
The epidemiological studies showed significant benefits of dietary patterns including mushrooms on cognition and mood in both healthy and compromised populations. Most studies used food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) to assess mushroom intake and employed various neuropsychiatric tests to measure cognitive and mood outcomes.
- Cognitive Outcomes: Improved global cognition, verbal memory, and visuospatial skills were associated with higher mushroom intake.
- Mood Outcomes: Reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety were observed in participants following mushroom-rich diets.
- Sleep Outcomes: Mixed findings were reported, with some studies showing improved sleep quality and others finding no significant effects.
Intervention Studies
The intervention studies primarily investigated the effects of Lion’s Mane mushrooms on cognitive function, mood, and sleep quality. The studies involved various populations, including middle-aged and older adults, and used different dosages and durations of mushroom supplementation.
- Cognitive Function: Some studies showed improvements in global cognition and specific cognitive tasks, particularly in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
- Mood and Anxiety: Reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms were observed in some studies, with longer supplementation periods showing more significant effects.
- Sleep Quality: Limited benefits were observed for sleep quality, with mixed findings across studies.
Mechanisms of Action
The bioactive compounds in mushrooms may influence neurocognition through several direct and indirect mechanisms:
- Decreasing pro-inflammatory markers and oxidative stress.
- Increasing antioxidant enzymes and neurite outgrowth factors.
- Reducing neurotoxic factors and enhancing neuroplasticity.
- Improving gut health and microbial diversity, which in turn affects cognitive and mood outcomes.
Discussion
The review highlights the potential neurocognitive and mood benefits of including mushrooms in the diet. While epidemiological studies suggest positive associations, the findings from intervention studies are mixed and indicate the need for further research with larger sample sizes and longer durations.
The variability in study designs, mushroom species, dosages, and outcome measures makes it challenging to draw definitive conclusions. However, the evidence supports the potential of mushrooms as a beneficial component of a healthy diet, particularly for older adults and individuals at risk of cognitive decline and mood disorders.
Conclusion
This comprehensive review underscores the importance of mushrooms in promoting neurocognitive health and improving mood across the lifespan. Future research should focus on well-designed, long-term intervention studies to confirm these benefits and explore the underlying mechanisms further. Public health awareness of the potential cognitive and mood-enhancing effects of mushrooms could encourage their inclusion in regular diets, contributing to better mental health and cognitive functioning.
References
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