New research review underscores Reishi’s impact on Alzheimer’s

Hi there 🍄 

Happy Valentine’s Day! This week’s highlights include a guide to mushrooms in the bedroom and something peculiar growing out of a frog.

Reishi’s impact on Alzheimer’s

A formidable opponent 🥊 Alzheimer's Disease (AD), accounting for 60% of global dementia cases, faces a promising counter in the form of Reishi mushrooms, revealed by a groundbreaking study that aggregated hundreds of individual studies and extensive research. With neurodegenerative disorders predicted to become the second leading cause of death by 2040, Reishi emerges as a beacon of hope, largely due to its anti-amyloidogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.

• Hallmarks of AD 🧠 Characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein, disrupts cell communication and leads to neuronal damage.

• Reishi’s neuroprotection 🍄 Reishi mushrooms contain compounds like Ganoderic acid D and A, which protect brain cells from stress-induced damage and promote cellular health, showcasing potential as a neuroprotective agent against AD.

• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidants 🛣️ Extracts from Reishi mushrooms have been demonstrated to reduce brain inflammation by inhibiting pathways responsible for it, supporting their role in combating inflammation-related aspects of AD.

• Memory improvement 🔢 Studies indicate that Ganoderic acid can enhance memory and brain function, suggesting Reishi’s compounds could be beneficial in treating brain-related diseases. 👉️ Read more. 

Mushrooms in the bedroom

The afternoon delight 😏 Certain mushrooms are potent enhancers of sexual health and performance, backed by centuries of ancient wisdom and contemporary scientific research. Boost your libido, improve your fertility, improve erectile function, balance your hormones, what can’t mushrooms do? Here are four fungi to add to your stack.

• Cordyceps ⚡️ Traditional Chinese Medicine treasures it for boosting vitality, with research suggesting its ability to enhance libido, sexual performance, and reproductive health in both genders through hormone modulation and circulatory health improvement.

• Reishi 👑 Known as the "Magic Mushroom of the Bedroom," studies on male rats show its potential to significantly increase sexual desire and testosterone levels, alongside its adaptogenic qualities that may aid in stress reduction and mood regulation.

• Chaga 🪨 Esteemed for its role in elevating testosterone and stamina, with studies indicating its mechanism through the NOS pathway to support erectile function, showcasing its promise as a natural alternative for erectile dysfunction treatment.

• Truffles 💋 Celebrated in Ancient Roman and Italian cultures for their sensuality and fertility-enhancing allure, attributed to compounds like androstenone that mimic human sex pheromones, potentially elevating sexual desire in women. 👉️ Read more. 

What a toadstool

Have you seen my new shroom? 🐸 Researchers have documented the first-known instance of a mushroom growing from a living frog. The Bonnet Mushroom (Mycena sp.) was found sprouting from the side of a Rao’s Intermediate Golden-backed Frog (Indosylvirana intermedia), a species native to the Western Ghats. This unusual occurrence raises questions about the relationship between the mushroom and the otherwise healthy frog, highlighting a rare interaction in nature.

• 🍄 The Bonnet mushroom is typically found on rotting wood and was previously an unknown parasite to the frog species.

• 🌧️ The frog, part of a species native to the Western Ghats, was discovered among a group of 40 others near a rainwater-fed pond.

• 📸 No further research was conducted as our froggy friend here was observed, photographed, and left to live its days with its new fruiting body accessory. 👉️ Read more.

Around the web

• 🍭 A study from Imperial College London found that individuals who have taken psilocybin reported lasting improvements in sexual functioning, including arousal and satisfaction, with effects sustained for up to six months.

• 🐦️ A lucky mycologist ran across the elusive Bird’s Nest Fungi and shared it on the /mycology subreddit. What incredible detail exists in the world!

• 🦪 These Vegan Scallops with Lion’s Mane make a lovely dinner if you’re celebrating by staying in.