Get ready to be amazed! That green dressing you love on your sushi may have memory-boosting powers, at least according to a brand-new Japanese research study.
Lead scientist Rui Nouch, an associate teacher at Tohoku University’s Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, stated the results took the team by surprise, even though the findings were based on a small number of healthy volunteers.
“We were aware of evidence from earlier animal studies that wasabi provided health benefits,” he told CBS News. “But what really amazed us was the remarkable improvement in memory function. The results were significant.”
The research study was recently published in the journal Nutrients.
What could drive this memory-boosting effect from wasabi?
In the study, 72 healthy volunteers between 60 and 80 were divided into 2 groups. One group took 100 milligrams (mg) of wasabi extract at bedtime, while the rest took a placebo.
After 3 months, the wasabi group saw increases in both short- and long-term memory, based on standard tests for language skills, concentration, and the ability to perform basic tasks.
Those who got the wasabi saw their episodic memory scores jump by an average of 18%, Nouch said, and they scored an average of 14% higher than the placebo group overall.
The full article is available from Medical Express. You can also Read More to get further details on this research.