What this means
This review looks at a substance found in the body that may protect nerve cells. It sums up earlier work, including mouse and cell studies, and some small human studies.
Plain-English summary written by an AI model from the abstract. The original is below.
- Who it was tested in
- A review of earlier studies, including mice and older adults
- Kind of research
- A summary of earlier studies
The science
- Original title
- Ergothioneine Mediated Neuroprotective Effects in the Nervous System.
- Authors
- Saha T, Frisina RD, Zhu X et al.
- Journal
- Molecular nutrition & food research
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Study type
- Review · in humans
- PMID
- 42876395 ↗
Abstract
Ergothioneine (EGT), a micromolecular derivative of histidine containing sulfur, is found in various organisms, including humans. It demonstrates antioxidant properties, reduces inflammation, and potentially possesses antiaging effects for neurodegenerative conditions, positioning EGT as a potential candidate for health enhancement and healthy aging. EGT appears to offer strong protective properties at the cellular level and shows decreased concentration levels in blood plasma in different neurological conditions such as cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Further, emerging evidence from both preclinical and currently limited clinical studies indicates EGT's therapeutic potential for neurological disorders. For instance, EGT treatment slowed the progression of age-related hearing loss and alleviated the cisplatin-induced hearing loss in mouse models, especially in male mice. Similarly, EGT intervention in older adults (aged 60 years or older) has shown some effectiveness in improving cognitive ability, memory, and sleep quality. In this review, we present a thorough examination of its function in neuroprotection, particularly within the nervous system and explore its potential intracellular targeting pathways and their underlying mechanisms.
Saha T, Frisina RD, Zhu X et al. Ergothioneine Mediated Neuroprotective Effects in the Nervous System. Molecular nutrition & food research. 2026. doi:10.1002/mnfr.70619. PMID: 42876395. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42876395/