Alzheimer’s Help, Thai Eco Rituals, and Fungi-Infused Bricks

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🧠 | Chaga for Alzheimer's

• 🩹 | Psilocybin for brain injury

• 🍽️ | Better food with fungi

Hi Shroomers. I just wanted to take a moment to say Thank you for opening this email each week, for sharing it with curious friends, and for being part of this fungi-loving community. It means the world. Whether you're here for gut health tips, cutting edge science, or the beauty of mushrooms themselves, I'm so glad you're with us.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Glucan showdown 🧪 Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms pack a powerful punch with over 26% β-glucans and up to 5.5% α-glucans—far outpacing lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), which clocked in at 17.4% and 0.67% respectively. These bioactive glucans are the key players behind immune support, gut health, and anti-inflammatory effects. If you're choosing a mushroom based on glucan strength, shiitake takes the crown.

Brain boost 🧠 A special extract of chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), called INO10, improved memory and reduced hallmark Alzheimer’s damage in 3xTg-AD mice. After three months of treatment, the mice showed better performance in maze tests, with significant reductions in brain plaque (Aβ), tau tangles, and inflammation. The extract’s active compound, inotodiol, worked without affecting movement or causing toxicity.

Alzheimer’s defense 🛡️ Stinkhorn mushroom (Phallus atrovolvatus), an edible species, reduced key Alzheimer’s markers in AppNL-G-F mice, a genetic model for the disease. Mice treated with the extract showed lower levels of amyloid-β plaque, improved neuron structure, and better memory performance in behavioral tests. The mushroom also enhanced antioxidant defenses and reduced inflammation, highlighting its potential as a functional brain-protective food.

Gut health gains 👅 Whole mushroom powders—cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), and turkey tail (Trametes versicolor)—acted as prebiotics in a simulated human colon. They boosted short-chain fatty acid production, especially butyrate, and increased levels of beneficial bacteria. These changes support digestion, immunity, and a healthier microbiome, showing how functional mushrooms can directly improve gut health when eaten regularly .

Brain cell growth 🔋 Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) extract stimulated neuronal growth and boosted electrical activity in human-derived SH-SY5Y brain cells. The treated cells developed longer branches, more synaptic connections, and increased excitability, all markers of better communication between neurons. This supports lion’s mane’s reputation as a nootropic, offering real potential for memory, learning, and neuroregeneration at the cellular level.

Burn wound repair 🔥 Puffball mushroom (Lycoperdon lividum) significantly improved healing in second-degree burn wounds in rats, performing better than both Vaseline and β-sitosterol treatments. The mushroom’s extract, rich in polyphenols like quercetin and rutin, reduced inflammation, boosted anti-inflammatory and healing signals, and enhanced tissue regeneration.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Psilocybin for depression 💊 A new review in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology synthesized findings from over 30 clinical and preclinical studies on psilocybin’s antidepressant effects. Psilocybin consistently reduced symptoms of major depression, treatment-resistant depression, and end-of-life anxiety, often with just one or two sessions. Neuroimaging revealed increased brain plasticity, restored connectivity in mood-regulating networks, and reduced activity in the default mode network. These findings reinforce psilocybin’s potential as a fast-acting, neuroscience-backed mental health tool.

Brain injury recovery 🩹 Psilocybin shows potential for helping the brain heal after traumatic brain injury (TBI) by promoting neuroplasticity, reducing inflammation, and restoring disrupted brain networks.

Serotonin switchboard ☎️ The 5-HT2A receptor is the key target of psilocybin and other classic psychedelics, driving their effects on mood, perception, and cognition. This review breaks down how activating this receptor enhances brain plasticity, reduces depressive symptoms, and reshapes rigid thought patterns.

Zapotec traditions 🇲🇽 In the Sierra Mazateca region of Oaxaca, the Zapotec community continues to use Psilocybe mushrooms in sacred healing rituals guided by experienced elders. This ethnomycological study highlights how traditional ceremonies blend spirituality, ecological knowledge, and community health. The mushrooms are not recreational; they are medicine, deeply tied to cultural identity and landscape stewardship. Despite modern pressures, these practices reflect a resilient biocultural legacy of respectful, intentional psilocybin use.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Mushroom brick blend 🧱 Researchers found that incorporating spent mushroom substrate (SMS) from species like oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) into cement bricks creates stronger, lighter, and more thermally insulating construction materials. A 5% SMS blend met high-strength concrete standards (31.7 MPa) and cut thermal conductivity by up to 85%, recycling mushroom waste while slashing environmental costs.  

Floating fungi solution 🇹🇭 Researchers in Thailand designed biodegradable Phoenix oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) krathongs—traditional floating offerings—for the Loy Krathong festival using sawdust and invasive water hyacinth. These mushroom-based krathongs not only float well and biodegrade within 28 days, but also contain morning glory (Ipomoea aquatica) seeds that sprout after release, turning a one-night cultural ritual into an act of ecological restoration.

Fungi stabilize sand 🏖️ Mycelium from filamentous fungi reinforced loose sand by increasing cohesion, forming bonds that mimicked root structures. Researchers used wheat bran as a growth medium, creating a biodegradable, eco-friendly method to prevent erosion, shallow landslides, and coastal slope failure. Fungus-treated sand remained durable even after 14 days submerged in water and showed no environmental risk from runoff.

Bacterial-fungal bricks ⚒️ A new composite mortar made from Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and the bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii is helping build walls using reclaimed clay bricks, offering a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to traditional materials. This fungi-bacteria blend achieved strength comparable to lime mortar and was tested in real-world wall prototypes.

GROWING & GOURMET

Mushrooms meet meat 🧫 Researchers created edible microcarriers from oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), king oyster (P. eryngii), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and wood ear (Auricularia heimuer) mushrooms as scaffolds for growing lab-grown meat. These mushroom scaffolds supported the growth and differentiation of muscle cells, resulting in cultured meat with texture and strength comparable to traditional meat.

Reishi from food waste ♻️ Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma sichuanense) was successfully grown on a mix of traditional substrates and discarded fruit peels, increasing the production of key bioactive compounds. This method boosted total polysaccharide content to 6.1% and triterpenoids to 0.72%, both important for immune and skin health. It also recycled over 60% of the carbon and 85% of the nitrogen from the peels.

Better food with fungi 🍽️ Mushroom-derived food additives do more than boost flavor, they offer real health benefits. This comprehensive review highlights how compounds from mushrooms like oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) can enhance nutrition and shelf life. These fungi provide antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects when used in everything from baked goods to meat substitutes.

Pork-saving oyster 🍖 A new food wrap made with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) polysaccharides and green tea antioxidants extends pork shelf life by five days. Researchers created a chitosan-collagen film infused with oyster mushroom–EGCG conjugates and ε-polylysine, delivering strong antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The result: a safer, more eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based packaging, with benefits for both food quality and sustainability.

Meaty pea & shiitake 🍔 A new plant-based meat blend combines pea protein (Pisum sativum) and shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) to improve texture, nutrition, and water absorption. By optimizing temperature and mixing ratios during extrusion, researchers created a protein with 73.5% content, enhanced fibrous structure, and favorable amino acids, offering a promising alt-protein solution with real bite.

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