The acute and chronic effects of oyster mushroom intervention on cognition, mood, metabolism and inflammation in healthy older adults

Cha, S. (2025) The acute and chronic effects of oyster mushroom intervention on cognition, mood, metabolism and inflammation in healthy older adults. PhD thesis, University of Reading. doi: 10.48683/1926.00127414

Abstract/Summary

Ageing involves a progressive deterioration in physiological and behavioural functions, often associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation. Given the limited success of current pharmacological treatments for age-related declines, dietary interventions are gaining attention. Edible mushrooms- including oyster mushroom- have attracted interest for their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their effects on cognition and mood in humans remain underexplored. This thesis combined interrogation of epidemiological data and clinical trials, to evaluate mushrooms’ role in supporting cognitive and mental health in a UK cohort aged 40-92 years old. An epidemiological study, using EPIC-Norfolk data, revealed that mushroom consumers outperformed non-consumers, across multiple cognitive domains, in a dose-dependent manner, with highest scores among those consuming one or more portions (45g) per week. Subsequently, an intervention study assessed acute effects (up to 6-hours) of three OM doses in dried form- 4.70g (OM0.5), 9.39g (OM1) and 18.78g (OM2), equivalent to 40g, 80g and 160g of fresh OM respectively- compared to placebo (OM0), in participants 60-80 years old. Results showed that OM helped maintain Positive Affect (PA) and Mental Fatigue (MF) throughout the day, compared to declines in PA and increases in MF, observed following OM0. OM also significantly lowered postprandial nitrite, NADPH oxidase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, compared to OM0. Finally, a 12-week trial in participants 60-80 years-old, using the OM1 dose consumed 4 times weekly, showed reduced anxiety, improved delayed word recall and recognition on a RAVLT task, and reduced NADPH oxidase 2 and cyclo-oxygenase 2, compared to baseline. By the end the trial, OM intake lowered sadness, shyness and anxiety, and enhanced episodic memory, compared to placebo. Together, this research provides evidence that mushrooms, notably OM, may support cognitive function and mood during ageing, potentially through anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Item Type	Thesis (PhD)
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/127414
Identification Number/DOI	10.48683/1926.00127414
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
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