Science: Spicy eating may increase the risk of dementia

According to a recent scientific study, eating too many peppers may increase the risk of dementia. This must be unhappy news for those who like spicy food.

Experts from Qatar College of Medical Sciences conducted an analysis of 4,582 55-year-old Chinese in the period 1991-2006. The results have shown that evidence of cognitive decline is more rapid in people who regularly eat 50 grams of chili each day.

Peppers are sold at a market in Manila, Philippines - (Photo: AFP).

Experts Zumin Shi, who led the study, emphasized: "In our previous studies, eating chili was found to be beneficial in balancing body weight and blood pressure. However, in this study We see the adverse effects of chili on cognitive ability in older people ".

The amount of peppers studied by experts in this case is both chili and dried peppers, however not the sweet peppers or black peppers.

Ming Li of the University of South Australia - co-author of the study, said: "Peppers are one of the most popular spices in the world, especially popular in Asian countries. rather than in European countries, in some areas of China like Sichuan and Hunan (Hunan), up to one third of the adult population eats spicy food every day. "

This is the first long-term study of the relationship between chili intake and cognitive function in humans. Previous studies mainly focused on capsaicin - an active ingredient in chili , which plays a role in speeding up metabolism, reducing fat and inhibiting vascular disorders.

According to researchers, people with normal body weight will be more sensitive to chili than overweight people and therefore their memory and weight will also be affected more.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 50 million people with dementia in the world, of which Alzheimer's is the most common - accounting for about 60-70% of cases.

Currently, science has not found any treatment for patients with dementia or intervention to slow the progress of this disease.

1. Why do people like to eat spicy?
2. You may not know: Spicy food will help your body cool when it is hot!