Scent therapies may help in preservation of memory

DEAR DOCTORS: My husband and I just hit 65 and are interested in information about preserving memory. I just read about a study that says using your sense of smell more often can be helpful. Do you have any information about that study? The details have been pretty vague.

DEAR READER: You’re referring to the findings of a study published last summer in the scientific journal Frontiers In Neuroscience.

Although the study was small, the results were quite intriguing. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine found that when older adults were exposed to a range of different scents each night, their memories measurably improved.

The study looked at 43 adults ranging in age from 60 to 85. All were in good physical health, and none had any issues with cognition. Each participant was issued an odour diffuser to be placed in their bedrooms. When filled with the…