A recent medical study concluded that pleasant and beautiful scents can help treat depression, dementia, and diseases that affect the brain in old age.
In a report seen by Al Arabiya.net, the British newspaper “Daily Telegraph” quoted a recent study conducted by neuroscientists from the University of Pittsburgh that smelling good scents can help improve the mood of people suffering from depression.
In their study, the researchers followed 32 people between the ages of 18 and 55 who were suffering from major depression. They were exposed to 12 different scents that were packed in sealed boxes with a written guide to the scent.
Participants recalled specific memories from their lives when they smelled certain scents, such as the smell of coffee, waxy shoe polish, vanilla extract, lavender hand soap, and more common household items. It turned out that smells triggered more specific memories from their lives than words.
Dr. Kimberly Young, co-author of the study, explained that autobiographical memory problems are a hallmark of major depressive disorder, meaning that patients focus only on negative events or interpret events in a negative light. But memories triggered by smell tend to be more vivid, “real,” and more effective in triggering positive events, which can interrupt negative thought patterns.
“If we improve memory, we can improve problem solving, emotion regulation, and other functional problems that individuals with depression often experience,” she added.
For her part, Professor Rachel Herz, a cognitive neuroscientist and leading expert in the psychology of smell, said that there is no other sensory system that has the same amount of emotional power and excitement.
She added: “Our sense of smell is processed in the same part of the brain as our emotions and emotional memories. So when we smell something, if there is a prior association, it immediately activates the emotion of that association.”
According to Herz, the sense of smell tells us where it is safe to live, helps us find food, helps us choose the right partner and get to know our child.
For his part, Professor James Goodwin, Director of Science at the Brain Health Network and author of the book “Charge Your Brain”, said: “Smell has been an essential mechanism for human survival for 1.5 million years. Having a well-functioning sense of smell is really important for our mental health.”
Many people use lavender on the pillow to help with sleep and relieve stress and insomnia. Professor Goodwin said: “It has also been shown to be an anxiolytic, and therefore dissolves our fears. These calming properties could also be useful in clinical settings.”
Aromatherapy is also being increasingly used in cancer treatment and end-of-life care, but what is even more exciting is that aromatherapy can help patients with dementia, said Professor Goodwin, who is convinced of the power of essential oils that can penetrate the brain and produce chemical changes. Strong in our mood.
He added: “Normally, the brain’s blood vessel cells are very tightly intertwined to prevent substances from passing through the so-called blood-brain barrier. But essential oils are very small aromatic molecules that easily evaporate into the air and can be inhaled. They enter the general circulation and pass to the brain.”
He said that there is scientific evidence that lavender oil can reduce the incidence of aggressive behavior in dementia, and a group of essential oils can also be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
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