Does wasabi improve cognition in the elderly?

Age-related decline in cognitive performance has a major impact on the lives of the elderly. Studies have already shown a beneficial effect of ginger and garlic on cognitive functions. Wasabi might as well be added to this list...

𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢 is a very popular spice in 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞. Its main active compound is 6-methylsulfinyl-hexyl-isothiocyanate (6-MSITC), also known as 𝐡𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐞. This antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule is a member of the isothiocyanate family. Previous data have suggested the 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 of wasabi consumption in elderly patients.

As its effect had never been studied in 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬, a group of researchers tested the effect of wasabi consumption 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟐 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 in this population, in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. The article, recently published in the journal Nutrients, reported a significant 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 in the wasabi group, compared with the placebo group.

In view of the results, it would be interesting to study whether this effect is also observed in younger healthy adults. This study once again underlines the 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭 on body functions.