Aroma & Memory

Neurologically, aroma probably has such power over memory…

In the trial at the University of California, Irvine, neuroscientists distributed scent diffusers containing seven different essential oil cartridges to 43 adults aged 60 to 85 who had no prior diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia.

The essential oil aromas of rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender were used. When seniors used essential oil diffusers in their bedrooms for two hours every night over six months, their cognitive performance jumped a stunning 226 percent.

MRI scans showed that scent-enriched group members had better integrity in a brain pathway called the left uncinate fasciculus, a tract that connects parts of the limbic system and weakens with age.

The study proves that the well established link between scent and memory can be harnessed in an easy, non-invasive intervention to improve memory function—and potentially ward off dementia—in seniors.

This information is HUGE, and if you are someone who is personally impacted by memory loss in any way - a family member, or a friend — or you’re a caregiver yourself - you know how challenging it can be.