{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T15:43:15Z","timestamp":1785426195900,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":169,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,18]],"date-time":"2026-04-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776470400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003196","name":"Ministero della Salute","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["RRC-2026-23688274"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RRC-2026-23688274"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003196","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["RRC-2026-23688274"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RRC-2026-23688274"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00789fa95","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This narrative review proposes the \u2018Brain Health Triad\u2019 as a novel integrative framework for neurorehabilitation and cognitive enhancement, built upon three interdependent biological pillars: neurostimulation, neurotrophy, and neuroprotection. We illustrate how the synergistic interplay between a \u2018core triad\u2019 composed of Hericium erinaceus, Bacopa monnieri, and L-Theanine targets these pillars with high specificity. Hericium erinaceus fosters neurotrophy by inducing Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis through erinacines and hericenones; Bacopa monnieri complements this by enhancing neurostimulation and synaptic plasticity via bacosides; and L-Theanine regulates neurotransmitter balance and alpha-wave activity to stabilize the neural signaling environment. This core architecture is further reinforced by adjunctive nootropic clusters\u2014including withanolides, ginkgolides, citicoline, cordycepin, macamides, and fulvic acid\u2014which provide essential support for mitochondrial resilience and the mitigation of amyloid-\u03b2 and tau toxicities. By synthesizing molecular evidence from the BDNF\/TrkB\/CREB signaling axis and the Nrf2\/NF-\u03baB homeostatic switch, we demonstrate that this multi-target strategy offers a more robust path to neuronal resilience than traditional single-target approaches. We conclude that this integrated model provides a solid framework for future clinical applications in the management of age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27083607","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T08:24:23Z","timestamp":1776673463000},"page":"3607","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Phytochemical and Fungal Bioactive Compounds in the \u201cBrain Health Triad\u201d: A Narrative Review on Neurostimulating, Neurotrophic, and Neuroprotective Synergy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0823-1455","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanni Luca","family":"Cipriano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino-Pulejo\u201d, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3999-0286","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivana","family":"Raffaele","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino-Pulejo\u201d, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-4084-6568","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessia","family":"Floramo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino-Pulejo\u201d, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-9058-5755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Veronica","family":"Argento","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino-Pulejo\u201d, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-7882-2432","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Francesca","family":"Astorino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morpho Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3694-5287","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Lui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino-Pulejo\u201d, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2082-9855","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco","family":"Calabr\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morpho Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0215-2174","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivan","family":"Anchesi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino-Pulejo\u201d, Via Provinciale Palermo, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Saha, S., Buttari, B., Profumo, E., Tucci, P., and Saso, L. 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