Sushi enthusiasts have an exciting new reason to indulge in their favorite Japanese delicacies. A recent study conducted by Tohoku University in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan, suggests that the spicy green sushi topping, Wasabi, might not only add a kick to your taste buds but also enhance both short and long-term memory.

Published on October 30 in the scientific journal Nutrient, the study led by Associate Professor Rui Nouchi from Tohoku University's Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer indicates that Wasabi offers not only anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties but also significant memory improvement benefits.

The research involved 72 healthy adults aged over 60, with some participants given a placebo and others a supplement containing 6-MSITC, a bioactive compound found in Wasabi. The 12-week experiment assessed executive function, episodic memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed.

Results were striking, with the 6-MSITC supplement significantly enhancing episodic memories by 18%, outscoring the placebo group by 14%. The Wasabi extract, sourced from the roots of the Wasabia japonica plant in Japan, is believed to reduce oxidants and inflammation levels in the hippocampus, a crucial brain region for learning and memory.

Professor Nouchi expressed his enthusiasm, stating that the memory improvement observed in the study participants was "really substantial." Other contributors to the study include Natasha Y.S. Kawata, Toshiki Saito, Haruka Nouchi, and Ryuta Kawashima.

While Wasabi emerges as a surprising memory-boosting sushi topping, those averse to spicy flavors can explore alternative memory-enhancing foods. According to the New York Post, options such as red wine, tea, dark chocolate, bananas, cherries, and blackberries can contribute to improved memory. These foods contain flavanols, a compound linked to better short-term memory, found in cocoa, grapes, and teas.

This revelation isn't isolated, as a separate study led by Scott Small MD, Professor of Neurology at Columbia University, highlighted the memory-boosting effects of flavanols. Conducted with over 3,500 participants, the study showed significant memory improvement within a year for subjects who consumed a 500 mg flavanol supplement daily.

While sushi lovers may celebrate the newfound benefits of Wasabi, these studies collectively suggest that incorporating specific foods into one's diet may hold the key to maintaining and enhancing cognitive functions, offering a flavorful twist to the pursuit of a sharper memory.