Background: Given the bioactive properties and limited work to date, Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s mane) shows promise in improving cognitive function and mood. However, much of the human research has concentrated on chronic supplementation in cognitively compromised cohorts. Objective: The current pilot study investigated the acute and chronic (28-day) cognitive and mood-enhancing effects of Hericium erinaceus in a healthy, young adult cohort. Design: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups design investigated the acute (60 min post dose) and chronic (28-day intervention) effects of 1.8 g Hericium erinaceus in 41 healthy adults aged 18–45 years. Results: Analysis revealed that following a single dose of Hericium erinaceus, participants performed quicker on the Stroop task (p = 0.005) at 60 min post dose. A trend towards reduced subjective stress was observed following 28-day supplementation (p = 0.051). Conclusions: The findings tentatively suggest that Hericium erinaceus may improve speed of performance and reduce subjective stress in healthy, young adults. However, null and limited negative findings were also observed. Given the small sample size, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further investigation in larger sample sizes is crucial, however the findings of this trial offer a promising avenue of interest.

Nitrate-rich food can increase NO production and may induce positive effects on brain function. This study examined the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) testing the effects of prolonged consumption of incremental doses of dietary nitrate (NO3-) in overweight and obese older participants. Secondary aims tested dose-dependent changes in cognitive, vascular and pulmonary functions and cerebral blood flow (CBF). This was a single blind, four-arm parallel RCT conducted in 60 overweight and obese older participants. Eligible participants were randomized to:1) high NO3- (140 ml of beetroot juice (BJ) per day, ~800 mg of NO3-/day), 2) moderate NO3- (70 ml of BJ per day, ~400 mg of NO3-/day), 3) low NO3- (70 ml on alternate days, ~400 mg of NO3-) or 4) NO3- depleted (70 ml on alternate days, ~0.001 mg of NO3). Measurements of cognitive, vascular and pulmonary functions and CBF were conducted at baseline and 13-weeks NO3- intake was assessed by six 24-h recalls, and by measuring NO3- intake biomarkers. Feasibility was assessed by obtaining qualitative feedback and evaluating trial recruitment, retention, compliance with study visits and measurement protocols. Participant recruitment started in July 2018 and ended in April 2019. Of all the recruitment strategies that were used, advertisement of the study via Facebook generated the highest response rate. Sixty-two participants consented and were enrolled. Overall, characteristics of included participants matched our recruitment criteria. The findings from this study provide evidence of the acceptability and feasibility of an intervention investigating the effects of incremental doses of high-nitrate BJ over a prolonged period. The intervention study was registered with clinical trial ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN14746723) on 27 December 2018.

Background: Coffeeberry extract, rich in chlorogenic acids, shows promise in improving mood and cognition, particularly when co-supplemented with phenolic compounds. However, limited work has considered the effects of coffeeberry in isolation, especially at low doses. Objective: The current study investigated the effect of low and moderate doses of coffeeberry extract on cognition and mood. Design: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design investigated three active beverages on a sample of 72 healthy adults aged 18–49 years. The investigational beverages contained 100 mg or 300 mg coffeeberry extract (standardized to 40% chlorogenic acid), or 75 mg caffeine (positive control). Cognition, mood, and subjective energy were measured at baseline and then again at 60 and 120 min post-treatment. Results: Analysis revealed no effect of 300 mg coffeeberry extract, while 100 mg resulted in increased mental fatigue during the performance of cognitively demanding tasks (p = 0.025) and decreased accuracy on a task of sustained attention (p = 0.003), compared to placebo, at 60 min post dose. Conclusions: Administration of 100 mg and 300 mg coffeeberry extracts revealed limited, transient negative effects following 100 mg coffeeberry. Given the large number of outcome measures analysed and the absence of findings following the 300 mg dose, these negative findings should be interpreted with caution. Overall, the findings of the current study suggest that coffeeberry extract at a low or moderate dose does not have a beneficial effect on mood, mental and physical energy levels, or cognition; higher doses, as have been administered previously, may be more effective.

Survival outcomes for patients with lower grade gliomas (LrGG) are improving. However, injury from tumor growth and consequences of treatment often leads to impaired cognition, particularly in cognitive domains reliant on distributed functional networks and intact white-matter tracts. Resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI) is a method of investigating the integrity of these functional networks. This study investigated rsfMRI connectivity in 21 patients with clinically stable LrGG compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls, and associated imaging measures with cognitive outcomes. Data were acquired for 12 cognitive tests administered within one week of imaging. RsfMRI and T1-weighted images for 21 research controls were acquired from OpenNeuro datasets. RsfMRI data were processed and analyzed using the CONN toolbox using CONN’s standard regions of interest (ROI) for the 8 canonical networks as seeds, and cognitive test scores as covariates, with a threshold for T tests of p< .001 uncorrected. Median age was 48 years old (range 27-67). There were 6 astrocytomas, IDHmut; 3 astrocytomas IDH-wt, 8 oligodendrogliomas, and 4 NOS. Thirteen had left hemisphere tumors (8 frontal, 3 parietal, 2 temporal), and 6 right (5 frontal, 1 temporal). Fourteen had previously recieved radiotherapy. There was significantly lower connectivity in frontoparietal executive control and the salience networks in LrGG patients versus controls. Within patients, lower executive control network connectivity covaried with worse performance on executive measures (FAS, Tower of London, Trails-A, Animal Naming, FrSBe), and attention and working memory measures (Digit Symbol, HVLT). Lower salience network connectivity covaried with poorer performance on executive measures (FrSBe, FAS) and attention and working memory measures (Digit Span, HVLT, WAIS-WM). In clinically stable LrGG, rsfMRI measures of network connectivity are potentially useful markers to monitor and track, given the concordance with cognition, and could help guide cognitive assessment and rehabilitation.

Background: Functional mushrooms, particularly Lion’s mane ( Hericium erinaceus ) and Reishi ( Ganoderma lucidum ), are increasingly marketed for cognitive and mood-related benefits, despite limited evidence to date. Objectives: This trial examined the effects of four-week supplementation of Lion’s mane and a Lion’s mane and Reishi mushroom blend on mood and wellbeing in Gen Z women experiencing subjective stress and/or anxiety. Methods: A preliminary sort-and-rank study was conducted to identify priority outcomes for the population. Following this, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups trial was conducted. Eighty-four young women (aged 18–26) received either 1.8 g powdered Lion’s mane, 1.8 g powdered Lion’s mane and Reishi mushroom blend, or placebo in capsulated form for 28-days. Mood and wellbeing were assessed at baseline, weekly during the intervention period and at Day 42 (follow-up). Qualitative data regarding subjective changes to wellbeing were collected on Days 28 and 42. Results: Analysis indicated that the mushroom blend resulted in lower anxiety (GAD-7) than Lion’s Mane, overall ( p = 0.018) and at Day 28 ( p = 0.003). Following FDR correction, secondary interactions for anxiety (HADS) and stress (PSS) were attenuated to trend-level, exploratory post hoc tests suggested a pattern of benefits of the mushroom blend over Lion’s mane and placebo at various timepoints ( p = 0.001–0.043), though these should be interpreted cautiously rather than confirmatory. Qualitative data supported this pattern. Significant improvements across all psychological measures were observed regardless of treatment allocation, suggesting participatory benefits alongside intervention effects. Conclusion: Results indicated that 28-day supplementation with the mushroom-blend improved the primary anxiety outcome (GAD-7), relative to Lion’s mane alone. Trend-level findings on secondary anxiety (HADS) and stress (PSS) measures point to a similar pattern of benefit over both comparators, but require confirmation in adequately powered trials. This trial contributes to a growing field investigating functional mushrooms, however, to further understand efficacy effects, substantial work is required to determine key methodological questions including dosage, intervention duration and blend composition. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT06406946.