A recent medical study has concluded that pleasant and beautiful scents can help treat depression, dementia, and age-related brain diseases. The British newspaper "Daily Telegraph," in a report reviewed by "Al Arabiya.net," cited research conducted by neuroscientists from the University of Pittsburgh indicating that smelling pleasant scents can improve the mood of individuals suffering from depression.
In their study, researchers monitored 32 individuals aged between 18 and 55 with severe depression, who were exposed to 12 different scents packed in airtight containers along with written descriptions of the smells. Participants recalled specific memories from their lives when they smelled certain scents, such as coffee, shoe polish, vanilla extract, lavender hand soap, and other common household items. It turned out that the scents evoked more specific memories from their lives than words.
Dr. Kimberly Young, a co-author of the study, explained that problems with autobiographical memory are a hallmark of severe depressive disorder, meaning that patients only focus on negative events or interpret events in a negative light. However, memories triggered by scent tend to be clearer, more "true," and more effective at eliciting positive events, which can disrupt negative thought patterns.
She added, "If we improve memory, we can enhance problem-solving, emotional regulation, and other functional issues that individuals with depression often suffer from." Professor Rachel Herres, a cognitive neuroscientist and leading expert in the psychology of smell, noted that no other sensory system has the same level of emotional power and excitement.
She added, "Our sense of smell is processed in the same part of the brain where our emotions and emotional memories are processed. So, when we smell something, if there is a prior association, it immediately activates the emotion of that association." Professor James Goodwin, director of science at the Brain Health Network and author of "Charge Your Brain," stated, "Smell has been a fundamental mechanism for human survival over the past 1.5 million years... Having a well-functioning sense of smell is truly important for our mental health."
Many people use lavender on their pillows to help with sleep and alleviate stress and insomnia, with Professor Goodwin stating, "It has also been shown to be an anxiolytic, thus dissipating our worries; these calming properties can also be beneficial in clinical settings.” Aromatherapy is increasingly being used in cancer treatment and end-of-life care, but even more excitingly, aromatherapy may help patients suffering from dementia. Professor Goodwin is convinced of the power of essential oils that can penetrate the brain and produce significant chemical changes in our mood.
He added, "The blood vessel cells in the brain are usually tightly intertwined to prevent substances from passing through what is called the blood-brain barrier. However, aromatic oils are very small aromatic molecules that easily evaporate in the air and can be inhaled, entering the general bloodstream and passing into the brain." He stated that there is scientific evidence that lavender oil can reduce aggressive behavior in dementia, and a range of essential oils can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease.
