Mushroom Intake May Curb MCI In Older Adults

Older adults who ate more than two standard portions of mushrooms daily were 50% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, compared with those in the control group, according to a Singaporean study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Researchers suggest that mushrooms’ protective effect against MCI may be due to the presence of elevated concentrations of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound ergothioneine, as well as compounds promoting nerve growth factor synthesis and curbing the production of acetylcholinesterase, beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau.