Maitake Mushrooms May Sharpen Memory in Older Adults, Study Finds
An 18-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 47 adults aged 60+ found daily intake of maitake mushroom paste (Y10M strain) improved overall MoCA scores and memory, with a rise in natural killer (NK) cell activity that correlated with cognitive gains; a second strain (C5304) showed no such improvement. The results hint at an immune-mediated mechanism linking maitake polysaccharides to cognitive preservation, but the study's small size and variability call for larger trials before changing dietary guidance.