|
Edible mushrooms protect cognitive abilities against aging
If you eat everyday mushrooms such as mushrooms or oyster mushrooms a few times a week, your brain will stay in better shape as the years go by than if you never eat mushrooms. English psychologists report this in Nutrients.
Study
English psychologists at the University of Reading analyzed data from 5,091 Norfolk residents who had participated in the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk. The researchers had data on the intake of edible mushrooms such as mushrooms, shiitakes and oyster mushrooms from these study participants.
When the study began, the study participants were aged 40-92. The researchers were able to follow the study participants for 18 years. At the end of that period, the study participants had completed tests that said something about their cognitive abilities. The researchers then looked at whether there was a link between mushroom intake and scores on the mental tests.
Results
Across all tests, cognitive abilities improved slightly as study participants ate more mushrooms.
The figures below refer to the scores for the shortened versions of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Extended Mental State Examination (EMSE). Psychiatrists and gerontologists use the MMSE and the EMSE when they want to know how well older people are mentally fit.
Using statistical techniques, the psychologists had smoothed out the effect of fruit and vegetable intake, gender, age, weight and physical health.
Active substances
Edible mushrooms contain amino acids such as ergothioneine, sterols such as ergosterol and polysaccharides such as lentinan. These substances not only inhibit inflammatory and aging processes in the brain, but also appear to stimulate neurons to form new connections.
Conclusion
"The novel findings of this epidemiological study warrant further investigation but can be used to raise public health awareness about the potential benefits of mushrooms on cognitive function during ageing", write the British.
Source:
Nutrients. 2024 Jan 25;16(3):353.
More:
Supplementing with Lion's Mane improves mental fitness in people over 50 26.02.2023
Getting older? Belly button mushrooms improve motor coordination 09.04.2021
Edible mushrooms halve the risk of early-stage dementia 27.10.2019
Ergothioneine makes mushrooms healthy for your brain 31.12.2018
Human study: Yambushitake is a brain booster 01.03.208
Archives:
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Brain Boosters
Mushrooms
Psychology
|
