Wasabi is derived from the underground stem-rhizome of the wasabi plant, native to Japan. Beyond its culinary uses, wasabi has become the focus of scientific research, particularly in a recent study conducted by researchers from Tohoku University in Japan. The study delves into the cognitive effects of 6-MSITC, the primary bioactive compound in wasabi, on older adults aged 60 to 80.
In a double-masked, randomized trial involving 72 healthy participants, half of the group received 100 milligrams of wasabi extract at bedtime, while the other half received a placebo. The researchers specifically assessed the impact of 6-MSITC on working memory and episodic memory. The results revealed that the group administered with 6-MSITC exhibited significant improvements in both working and episodic memory compared to the placebo group. The positive effects were observed without significant improvements in other cognitive domains assessed.
The study's lead researcher, Rui Nouchi, who is also an associate professor at the Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer at Tohoku University, highlighted the surprising and substantial improvement in memory among the participants. Nouchi noted that while earlier animal studies hinted at health benefits associated with wasabi, the degree of improvement observed in this human study exceeded their initial expectations.
Source: interestingengineering.com