Wasabi: The Memory-Boosting Condiment

A study conducted by researchers from Tohoku University in Japan has found that consuming wasabi, the spicy ground rhizome often served with sushi, can significantly improve short- and long-term memory. The study involved 72 healthy subjects aged 60 to 80, with half of them taking 100 milligrams of wasabi extract at bedtime and the rest receiving a placebo. After three months, the group that received the wasabi treatment showed significant improvements in working memory and episodic memory, scoring on average 18% higher in episodic memory compared to the placebo group. The active component in wasabi, 6-MSITC, is a rare antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that is believed to be responsible for these memory-boosting effects.