Longevity & Aging

Higher Blood Ergothioneine Levels Linked to 40% Lower Dementia Risk in Japanese Study

A landmark 11-year study of 1,344 Japanese adults aged 65+ found that higher blood levels of ergothioneine—a powerful antioxidant found primarily in mushrooms—were associated with significantly lower dementia risk. Participants in the highest quartile of serum ergothioneine had approximately 40% lower risk of developing all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and non-Alzheimer's dementias compared to those in the lowest quartile. Since humans cannot produce ergothioneine, these findings suggest that consuming ergothioneine-rich foods, particularly mushrooms, may offer meaningful protection against cognitive decline and dementia in aging populations.