Sweet smell of success: Simple fragrance method produces major memory boost: Research into aromas while sleeping sparks 226% cognitive increase
www.sciencedaily.com
When a fragrance wafted through the bedrooms of older adults for two hours every night for six months, memories skyrocketed. Participants in this study reaped a 226% increase in cognitive capacity compared to the control group. The researchers say the finding transforms the long-known tie between smell and memory into an easy, non-invasive technique for strengthening memory and potentially deterring dementia.
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    2•1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Participants put a different cartridge into their diffuser each evening prior to going to bed, and it activated for two hours as they slept.

    This pathway, which connects the medial temporal lobe to the decision-making prefrontal cortex, becomes less robust with age.

    Scientists have long known that the loss of olfactory capacity, or ability to smell, can predict development of nearly 70 neurological and psychiatric diseases.

    Researchers have previously found that exposing people with moderate dementia to up to 40 different odors twice a day over a period of time boosted their memories and language skills, eased depression and improved their olfactory capacities.

    “The reality is that over the age of 60, the olfactory sense and cognition starts to fall off a cliff,” said Michael Leon, professor of neurobiology & behavior and a CNLM fellow.

    By making it possible for people to experience the odors while sleeping, we eliminated the need to set aside time for this during waking hours every day."

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