Slowing down the aging process is a hot topic for many people in middle age and beyond. But as we get older, it’s not just our exterior that needs maintenance. Botox, hair extensions, body contouring, and things of this nature go a long way toward promoting a healthy and vibrant look outside, but aging gracefully has a lot to do with what’s going on inside too. If your major organs, especially your brain, are not functioning at optimal levels, it could spell trouble later down the road. 

But research published in 2019 shows that eating mushrooms may be a major key to reducing cognitive decline, lessening the risk by up to 50%. (1) 

Study Suggests Eating Mushrooms Affects MCI

The exciting news comes from the Department of Psychological Medicine and the Department of Biochemistry at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The six-year study which took place from 2011-2017, found that seniors who consume more than two standard portions of mushrooms weekly may have 50% reduced odds of having a mild cognitive impairment (MCI). They found that even one small serving still had a positive effect on cognitive function.

For this study, a portion was defined as three-quarters of a cup of cooked mushrooms with an average weight of around 150 grams.

What is MCI? It’s often looked at as the space between what would be considered the effects of normal aging, and full-blown dementia. There is some degree of forgetfulness, problems with focus or attention, or a language issue, but for all intents and purposes, it is business as usual with everyday life. There is no obvious disability like you might see in someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

“People with MCI are still able to carry out their normal daily activities. So, what we had to determine in this study is whether these seniors had poorer performance on standard neuropsychologist tests than other people of the same age and education background,” explained Asst Prof Feng. “Neuropsychological tests are specifically designed tasks that can measure various aspects of a person’s cognitive abilities. In fact, some of the tests we used in this study are adopted from commonly used IQ test battery, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).” (1)

The researchers conducted interviews with the subjects to determine an accurate diagnosis. “The interview takes into account demographic information, medical history, psychological factors, and dietary habits. A nurse will measure blood pressure, weight, height, handgrip, and walking speed. They will also do a simple screen test on cognition, depression, anxiety,” said Asst Prof Feng.

Once a subject’s baseline was established, the effect of the mushrooms could be studied and recorded.

Is Eating Mushrooms A Fountain Of Youth?

The study utilized six of the most commonly eaten mushrooms in Singapore: Golden, oyster, shiitake, and white button mushrooms, plus dried and canned mushrooms too. It’s likely that other types of mushrooms deliver similar effects because the researchers believe the compound at play here is called ergothioneine (ET). 

“ET is a unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which humans are unable to synthesize on their own. But it can be obtained from dietary sources, one of the main ones being mushrooms,” said Dr. Irwin Cheah, Senior Research Fellow at the NUS Department of Biochemistry. 

This exciting news gives us one more tool in an ever-growing arsenal of natural anti-aging remedies. It’s also a compelling reason to find some great new mushroom recipes! Assistant Professor Feng and his colleagues will continue pushing to identify other ways to facilitate healthy brain aging, so stay tuned for more from these groundbreaking researchers.