Does lion mane supplement assist to improve memory?

Hello Jenn

Thanks for reaching out on EnableMe and we are sorry to hear of your husband’s memory difficulties after this stroke.

In regards to using Lion Mane,  we would always refer back to the Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management which provide a comprehensive overview of evidence for Stroke treatment and care.   At this stage we are yet to see specific evidence about the benefits of Lion Mane so cannot comment on whether it will be helpful for your husband.   If your husband is considering taking any type of  complementary medicine, make sure he talks to his Gp/neurologist and to his Pharmacist before taking it. This will make sure there are no impacts on his health or other medications he is currently taking.

Memory changes can be quite common after a stroke and these can be very challenging to manage for many people.  Memory is an extremely complex part of the brain and makes up a big part of our day to day life. When we talk about memory we talk about a number of different systems that all work together, so the impact on memory after a stroke can be in different ways.

Has your husband seen an Occupational Therapist about his memory lapses?  An Occupational Therapist can assess your husband’s memory and provide strategies that might help him manage his memory changes.  These might be setting up a whiteboard in the house to remember appointments, or using his mobile phone reminders or calendars. It might help to develop a daily routine to have the same structure to most days. It can even be helpful to keep his mobile phone or an exercise book with him to make notes on things that happen during the day, or to write important information in to keep a track of.  You might both like to look at our page on Thinking and Perception, including our podcast on Memory loss after stroke

Your husband may also benefit from a Neuropsychological assessment. A Neuropsychologist works with people who have trouble with memory, thinking or behavioural problems. They can work with your husband to work out strategies to best manage these changes.

We would be happy to talk with you more on StrokeLine about what your husband is going through, and what might help. Do reach out and give us a call on Ph. 1800 787 653 or email us on strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. We are available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday AEDT.

Kind regards

Siobhan (StrokeLine)