Lion's Mane vs Piracetam for memory
Short answer: For memory, users rate them about the same: 89% report improvement with Lion's Mane (130 reports) and 87% with Piracetam (113 reports).
Lion's Mane has 4 meta-analyses and 5 randomized trials on PubMed; Piracetam has 119 and 117.
Based on 888 reports about Lion's Mane and 789 about Piracetam. Not medical advice.
| Lion's Mane Supplement | Piracetam Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 46 | 50 |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 48% | 52% |
| Reports | 888 | 789 |
| Research | BResearch: Moderate | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 4 / 5 | 119 / 117 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Focus % reporting improvement | 88% (177) | 74% (248) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 66% (35) | 85% (46) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 54% (28) | 44% (9) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 67% (54) | 86% (42) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 73% (98) | 79% (71) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 89% (130) | 87% (113) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 40% (5) | 100% (2) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | 67% (3) | — |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 90% (10) | 100% (4) |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 50% (2) | — |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 4% (49) | 20% (5) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 80% (5) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | — | 67% (3) |
| Common side effects | vivid dreams, libido loss, anxiety, anhedonia | brain fog, headache, fatigue, irritability |
| Typical dose reported | 900 mg | daily |
Although commonly unreported, potential side effects of HE include stomach discomfort, headache, and allergic reactions. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024571250.
Front Nutr, 2025 ↗“Lions Mane notably lights my brain up (cognitive boost) and helps boost my mood through my typical afternoon lull.”
High-level evidence related to pharmacological strategies for managing Lewy body dementia is rare. Strategies for important areas of need in Lewy body dementia, such as autonomic symptoms and caregiver burden, have not been investigated, nor have the views of patients and caregivers about pharmacological strategies.
Am J Psychiatry, 2015 ↗“The effects were wonderful, they still are to me-- verbal fluidity, increased motivation, quicker thinking, better recall, pro social, wake up in the morning with ZERO grogginess.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate