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12/19/2025

Wasabi Root May Protect You From Cancer, Food Poisoning And Memory Loss

LIFE & STYLE
| TOI Lifestyle Desk | etimes.in | Dec 19, 2025, 11:30 IST

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If‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ a little dab of wasabi is your thing when eating sushi, then here is some good news and bad news. First, wasabi may provide a few health benefits because of its natural compounds and antioxidants. The bad news is that the brightly coloured green paste that is usually served with sushi is, most of the time, not wasabi at all. It's basically a mixture of horseradish, mustard powder, and green colouring.

Genuine wasabi, or Wasabia japonica, is quite rare and is very difficult to locate even in the case of places outside Asia. Though wasabi, as a matter of fact, remains a fascinating food with a possibility of having some health-supporting ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌features.

What is wasabi

Wasabi‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is a root vegetable from the Brassicaceae family, which is the same family as radishes, mustard plants, and horseradish. Historically, wasabi grew in nature in Japan, where it required cold and shady streams or rivers. Because of wasabi's unique growing conditions and its short shelf life, production is limited, and it is consequently costly.

The root is the part that is consumed after being finely grated to make the fresh wasabi paste. Also, wasabi powder is available; however, fresh wasabi is regarded as the most flavourful and ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌healthy.

Is wasabi actually healthy

Wasabi‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ has tiny traces of nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and fibre. Still, the major health benefit of wasabi is due to the presence of compounds known as isothiocyanates (ITCs). These compounds are one of the main reasons for the fiery flavour of wasabi, and the plant's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties come from them.

A number of possible health benefits have been associated by scientists with ITCs, amongst which they mention the strengthening of the immune system, support for memory, and cancer ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌prevention.

Wasabi may help protect against food poisoning

Wasabi's‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ antibacterial property is one of its most famous effects. Research published on Frontiers indicates that chemicals in wasabi may be able to stop the bacteria that cause food poisoning; most are E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

One particular compound, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), seems to be largely responsible for the protective effect. Consequently, it might be one of the reasons why wasabi is conventionally served with raw fish, like sushi.

In case there are some benefits from wasabi, it is still not advisable to let it replace the correct way of handling food, maintaining hygiene, and using the safe preparation ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌methods.

Wasabi could support memory and brain health

‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌Research published on MDPI is pointing to wasabi as a potential help for the brain, especially for memory. A recent study in Japan observed that older adults between 60 and 80 years of age who took wasabi supplements had their short-term and long-term memory enhanced to a great extent as compared to the control group.

While the study uncovered only very subtle effects in focus and decision-making areas, the results are still promising. It is assumed by scientists that antioxidants in wasabi may be the agents that protect the brain from ageing.
If anyone is thinking of taking wasabi supplements, it is definitely better to see a doctor ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌first.

Wasabi may help protect against cancer

Cruciferous‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ vegetables have been in the spotlight for their cancer-preventive effects, with wasabi being one of them. Research published on the US National Library of Medicine indicates that the isothiocyanates (ITCs) in wasabi root and leaf can lower the risk of cancer by detoxifying the body from harmful compounds.
One of these harmful compounds is acrylamide, which is a product that can form in fried or baked (starchy) foods at high temperatures and has been classified as a potential human carcinogen. Limited studies signal that ITCs in wasabi may lower the production of acrylamide and its harmful effects in the body.

Although the evidence is still insufficient, the inclusion of cruciferous vegetables such as wasabi in your daily meals may be a source of health protection in the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌future.

Wasabi‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ is not just about the heat and flavour. Its distinctive compounds might be beneficial for the immune system, memory, and cancer protection. But authentic wasabi is limited, and the majority of people are eating imitations. Nevertheless, wasabi is still a tasty weapon of flavour in the arsenal of meals if it is used in moderation.

Just like any other food or supplement, wasabi needs to be consumed as part of a balanced diet and not as a treatment for all ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌diseases.

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making dietary or supplement changes.)

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TOI Lifestyle Desk

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Jeff Y. L. Lam, Kai Wang & Guojun Bu
Nature Neuroscience (2025)Cite this article

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In this issue of Nature Neuroscience, Golden et al. unveil a mouse model that enables in vivo ‘switching’ from the Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4 to the protective gene APOE2. This genetic conversion reshapes Alzheimer’s disease-related metabolism, reduces neuropathology, and enhances cognition...

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Dementia is the UK’s leading cause of death, and one in three people born today will develop it in their lifetime. With numbers steadily rising, the need for effective treatments and improved dementia diagnosis is more urgent than ever. Thankfully, recent advances in science mean we understand the...

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OCTOBER 22, 2025
6:00 AM ET
Jon Hamilton

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Scientists are reporting the first compelling evidence in people that cognitive training can boost levels of a brain chemical that typically declines with age.

A 10-week study of people 65 or older found that doing rigorous mental exercises for 30 minutes a day increased levels of the chemical messenger acetylcholine by 2.3% in a brain area involved in attention and memory.

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Jessica Boten, Lead Social Science Analyst, DBSR, NIA
Elena Fazio, Director, Office of AD-ADRD Strategic Coordination OASC, DBSR, NIA

The Dementia Care and Caregiving Research Summit will be held virtually on March 17-19, 2026. The Summit offers a vital opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made in dementia care and caregiving research, as well as to address the persistent and emerging needs of people living with dementia, their care partners, and the communities and health systems that support them.

In addition to the Summit itself, we will host a virtual Pre-Summit Listening Session on October 29 at 2:00 pm ET to give attendees the opportunity to suggest themes and ideas for consideration. We look forward to engaging with Summit participants as we discuss current science and identify research gaps. Read the full blog post.

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At a Glance

Levels of lithium were significantly reduced in the prefrontal cortex of people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

In a mouse model of AD, a low-dose lithium salt in the diet reversed memory loss and prevented cognitive decline in aging mice.

While more study is needed, lithium replacement could be a potential approach to prevent and treat AD.

The brains of people with AD have abnormal protein deposits called amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Despite much progress in understanding AD, there is still uncertainty about how the disease develops. Previous research has found that the balance of metals in the brain may play a role, but the nature of this role has been unclear.

A research team led by Dr. Bruce Yankner at Harvard Medical School set out to explore how metal ions—charged atoms of metals—might affect brain function and AD. The researchers first looked at whether metals in the brain differed in those who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD. In MCI, which precedes AD, people have more difficulty thinking, remembering, and reasoning than normal for people their age.

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New research suggests that lithium replacement could be a potential approach to prevent and treat mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

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Donating your brain after death can help researchers learn more about how Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect the brain. One donated brain can make a huge impact, potentially providing information for hundreds of studies. In this short video, Dr. Nina Silverberg, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers Program at NIA, explains how brain donation advances scientific research and why it’s so valuable.

Watch this video to learn more about brain donation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr-nxJ6ozbw

https://mailchi.mp/nih.gov/why-brain-donation-matters-for-alzheimers-research-6257552?e=1410636a46

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Research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that repeated head impacts from contact sports can cause early and lasting changes in the brains of young- to middle-aged athletes. The findings show that these changes may occur years before chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) develops its hallmark disease features, which can now only be detected by examining brain tissue after death.

“This study underscores that many changes in the brain can occur after repetitive head impacts,” said Walter Koroshetz, M.D., director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). “These early brain changes might help diagnose and treat CTE earlier than is currently possible now.”

Scientists at the Boston University CTE Center, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and collaborating institutions analyzed postmortem brain tissue from athletes under age 51. Most of them had played American football. The team examined brain tissue from these athletes, using cutting-edge tools that track gene activity and images in individual cells. Many of these tools were pioneered by the NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative®. The researchers identified many additional changes in brains beyond the usual molecular signature known to scientists: buildup of a protein called tau in nerve cells next to small blood vessels deep in the brain’s folds.

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Volunteers needed for studies to advance dementia research

Are you interested in volunteering for research on Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and cognitive health?

Learn about new and featured studies below, or search for clinical trials and studies near you with the Alzheimers.gov Clinical Trials Finder.

New and featured studies
Click on the trial name for details and contact information.

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Featured Registries and Matching Services
Asian Cohort for Alzheimer’s Disease (ACAD) — Sign up to join a study to identify risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s in people of Asian ancestry.
Alzheimer Prevention Trials (APT) Webstudy — Enroll to track memory and thinking skills and learn about Alzheimer’s trials.
Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry — Get information and updates about participating in future Alzheimer’s prevention trials.

Get more information about these and other Alzheimer’s clinical trials online. Or call the ADEAR Center at 800-438-4380 or email adear@nia.nih.gov

https://mailchi.mp/nih.gov/volunteers-needed-for-studies-to-advance-dementia-research-6257540?e=1410636a46

Find information on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Explore resources from federal government agencies for people with dementia, caregivers, families, and professionals.