Spicy diet increases risk of dementia, says study

Memory decline was even more significant if the chili lovers were slim.

Think twice before adding that extra kick of chili sauce or chopped jalapeno to your meal as researchers have found that a spicy diet could be linked to dementia.

According to the research involving 4,582 Chinese adults aged over 55, evidence of faster cognitive decline was found in those who consistently ate more than 50 grams of chili per day. Memory decline was even more significant if the chili lovers were slim.

The study, published in the journal Nutrients, showed that those who consumed in excess of 50 grams of chili a day had almost double the risk of memory decline and poor cognition.

Chili intake included both fresh and dried chili peppers but not sweet capsicum or black pepper.

The research shows that capsaicin is the active component in chili which reportedly speeds up metabolism, fat loss and inhibits vascular disorders but this is the first longitudinal study to investigate the association between chili intake and cognitive function.