Origin & tradition
Hou Tou Gu (猴头菇) has long been eaten in China as a food and digestive tonic; modern interest centers on the brain.
Eastern tradition · Functional Mushroom
Lion's Mane 猴头菇
An edible mushroom studied for nerve-growth-factor support and cognitive healthspan.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Hericenones & erinacines (botanical extract).
Hericenones and erinacines can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) in models; small human trials suggest cognitive benefit in older adults and mild cognitive impairment.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
71Evidence confidence
Early / limited human trials5 randomized controlled trials · 4 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Small human cognition RCTs; NGF mechanism
Hericenones and erinacines can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) in models; small human trials suggest cognitive benefit in older adults and mild cognitive impairment.
15registered clinical trials reference this intervention
1selected from 1+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Hericenones & erinacines (botanical extract) — a multi-compound botanical extract, so activity is not reducible to a single molecule.
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-06-06. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
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