So Good For You They’ll Die Out

If you’re not a mushroom eater, it may be time to change your mind. From IOS Press and the National University of Singapore:

Abstract: We examined the cross-sectional association between mushroom intake and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using data from 663 participants aged 60 and above from the Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study in Singapore. Compared with participants who consumed mushrooms less than once per week, participants who consumed mushrooms >2 portions per week had reduced odds of having MCI (odds ratio = 0.43, 95% CI 0.23–0.78, p = 0.006) and this association was independent of age, gender, education, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, physical activities, and social activities. Our cross-sectional data support the potential role of mushrooms and their bioactive compounds in delaying neurodegeneration.

If you’re wondering if a ‘portion’ is ridiculous, Melissa Breyer has the lowdown:

A portion was defined as around three-quarters of a cup of cooked mushrooms with an average weight of 150 grams (five ounces). Which is pretty remarkable; often times studies like this are using extracts, or the amount to be consumed is unrealistic. Here, they found that even a single small serving of mushrooms weekly may still be beneficial to reduce chances of MCI.

So I suppose there’ll be a stampede to grow and eat mushrooms. For a recent birthday, a nephew gave me a “log” of mushroom spores. Here’s a pic or two, after having been dressed up with some decorative tree bark by my Arts Editor, and quickly fruited:

And, supposing this study is confirmed, will we soon be whistling through our noses about the sudden and dangerous decline in mushroom populations? I shan’t be surprised.