Overnight olfactory enrichment using an odorant diffuser improves memory and modifies the uncinate fasciculus in older adults

Frontiers in Neuroscience

Neuroscience

Cynthia C. Woo¹  Michael A. Yassa²  Blake Miranda²  Mithra Sathishkumar²  Michael Leon³  Farideh Dehkordi-Vakil⁴ 

[1] Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;Department of Statistics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States;

关键词: olfactory training;    fMRI;    environmental enrichment;    uncinate fasciculus;    cognitive loss;    olfaction;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnins.2023.1200448

 received in 2023-05-26, accepted in 2023-07-07,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveCognitive loss in older adults is a growing issue in our society, and there is a need to develop inexpensive, simple, effective in-home treatments. This study was conducted to explore the use of olfactory enrichment at night to improve cognitive ability in healthy older adults.MethodsMale and female older adults (N = 43), age 60–85, were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to an Olfactory Enriched or Control group. Individuals in the enriched group were exposed to 7 different odorants a week, one per night, for 2 h, using an odorant diffuser. Individuals in the control group had the same experience with de minimis amounts of odorant. Neuropsychological assessments and fMRI scans were administered at the beginning of the study and after 6 months.ResultsA statistically significant 226% improvement was observed in the enriched group compared to the control group on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and improved functioning was observed in the left uncinate fasciculus, as assessed by mean diffusivity.ConclusionMinimal olfactory enrichment administered at night produces improvements in both cognitive and neural functioning. Thus, olfactory enrichment may provide an effective and low-effort pathway to improved brain health.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Woo, Miranda, Sathishkumar, Dehkordi-Vakil, Yassa and Leon.