Wasabi: The Memory-Boosting Superfood, According to Japanese Study

A study from Japan's Tohoku University suggests that consuming wasabi, the spicy green topping often found in sushi, could significantly improve both short- and long-term memory. Researchers observed 72 healthy adults over the age of 60 who were given either a placebo or a supplement containing a bioactive compound in wasabi called 6-MSITC. The group that consumed the supplement showed a significant improvement in working and episodic memory performances, with episodic memory jumping by 18% on average. The compound in wasabi is believed to have brain-boosting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may lower levels of oxidants and inflammation in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Other foods such as red wine, certain teas, dark chocolate, bananas, cherries, and blackberries have also been shown to have memory-boosting powers.