Spicy Diet Linked to Dementia, Study Says

A recent study from the University of South Australia found that eating spicy food may hasten cognitive decline, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The researchers spent 15 years studying more than 4,500 Chinese adults aged at least 55, discovering that participants who ate more than 50 grams of chili per day experienced faster cognitive decline than their peers who did not. Older adults who ate spicier food had double the risk of developing memory decline and were more likely to have worsening cognitive functions. While chili is very common in Asian cuisine, it is uncommon to consistently eat more than 50 grams per day in the United States. The research team also found that older adults who eat chili and are underweight or at standard weight are at higher risk for cognitive decline.