Artwork

Contenuto fornito da UF Health. Tutti i contenuti dei podcast, inclusi episodi, grafica e descrizioni dei podcast, vengono caricati e forniti direttamente da UF Health o dal partner della piattaforma podcast. Se ritieni che qualcuno stia utilizzando la tua opera protetta da copyright senza la tua autorizzazione, puoi seguire la procedura descritta qui https://it.player.fm/legal.
Player FM - App Podcast
Vai offline con l'app Player FM !

Sweet smells may boost memory

2:00
 
Condividi
 

Manage episode 446627519 series 3382848
Contenuto fornito da UF Health. Tutti i contenuti dei podcast, inclusi episodi, grafica e descrizioni dei podcast, vengono caricati e forniti direttamente da UF Health o dal partner della piattaforma podcast. Se ritieni che qualcuno stia utilizzando la tua opera protetta da copyright senza la tua autorizzazione, puoi seguire la procedura descritta qui https://it.player.fm/legal.

Smell and memory have long seemed inextricably linked. It’s more than the way a certain aroma can trigger a strong, long-ago memory.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other disorders involving the brain are often preceded by a loss of olfactory capacity. Scientists, for example, are today studying how the loss of the sense of smell with COVID-19 infection might be associated with reports of cognitive impairment from the coronavirus.

Could that connection be used therapeutically?

A study by University of California researchers says evidence shows it likely could be. Every night for two months, they wafted a fragrance through the bedrooms of older adults without cognitive impairment and found aromas had a dramatic impact on memory.

They saw a 226% increase in cognitive capacity, or memory, for those ages 60 to 85 who slept while a strong fragrance was pumped into their bedrooms. That’s compared with a control group exposed to weaker fragrances.

Imaging showed those with improved memory had stronger integrity in a brain pathway between the medial temporal lobe and the decision-making prefrontal cortex. This pathway often weakens as we grow older.

As one researcher notes, when our eyesight deteriorates as we grow older, we can get a prescription for new eyeglasses. Memory impairment, however, resists any easy fix.

While the study is relatively small and involved just 43 participants, the scientists believe it points to the possibility of developing aroma therapy to treat cognitive decline.

“Stop and smell the roses” might become more than a cliché. It could one day be doctor’s orders.

  continue reading

76 episodi

Artwork
iconCondividi
 
Manage episode 446627519 series 3382848
Contenuto fornito da UF Health. Tutti i contenuti dei podcast, inclusi episodi, grafica e descrizioni dei podcast, vengono caricati e forniti direttamente da UF Health o dal partner della piattaforma podcast. Se ritieni che qualcuno stia utilizzando la tua opera protetta da copyright senza la tua autorizzazione, puoi seguire la procedura descritta qui https://it.player.fm/legal.

Smell and memory have long seemed inextricably linked. It’s more than the way a certain aroma can trigger a strong, long-ago memory.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other disorders involving the brain are often preceded by a loss of olfactory capacity. Scientists, for example, are today studying how the loss of the sense of smell with COVID-19 infection might be associated with reports of cognitive impairment from the coronavirus.

Could that connection be used therapeutically?

A study by University of California researchers says evidence shows it likely could be. Every night for two months, they wafted a fragrance through the bedrooms of older adults without cognitive impairment and found aromas had a dramatic impact on memory.

They saw a 226% increase in cognitive capacity, or memory, for those ages 60 to 85 who slept while a strong fragrance was pumped into their bedrooms. That’s compared with a control group exposed to weaker fragrances.

Imaging showed those with improved memory had stronger integrity in a brain pathway between the medial temporal lobe and the decision-making prefrontal cortex. This pathway often weakens as we grow older.

As one researcher notes, when our eyesight deteriorates as we grow older, we can get a prescription for new eyeglasses. Memory impairment, however, resists any easy fix.

While the study is relatively small and involved just 43 participants, the scientists believe it points to the possibility of developing aroma therapy to treat cognitive decline.

“Stop and smell the roses” might become more than a cliché. It could one day be doctor’s orders.

  continue reading

76 episodi

Minden epizód

×
 
Loading …

Benvenuto su Player FM!

Player FM ricerca sul web podcast di alta qualità che tu possa goderti adesso. È la migliore app di podcast e funziona su Android, iPhone e web. Registrati per sincronizzare le iscrizioni su tutti i tuoi dispositivi.

 

Guida rapida