Creating Memories Through Sense Of Smell For Dementia ✓ Solved
Creating Memories through Sense of Smell for Dementia
Creating Memories through Sense of Smell for Dementia
Creating Memories through Sense of Smell for Dementia Name: Aminata Sillah Institution: Kean University Date: March 5, 2021
Introduction Memories are always ignited by everything we smell within our environment. Memories are created from our childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. Researchers are figuring out that "sniffing out," close relations between losing the sense of smell and the parallel of memory loss related to dementia. The sense of smell is recognized as olfactory sense. Olfactory memory is the remembrance of smells.
Olfactory memory is a simple operation of the brain; however, its role is complex in conscious and subconscious memory. The other senses pass through a different brain region before being operated on. Senses of smell, the olfactory cortex is looped right to the amygdala and hippocampus – a major key to the limbic system. The things we smelled throughout the years stay with us. Those smells become part of our emotional memories and can recover through the form of emotional acknowledgments.
Certain scents bring back long-term memories through inner responses, which will greatly impact dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. According to El Haj and Giachet (2016), autobiographical memory contains all personal memories comparable to which we are and are discovered to be damaged in Alzheimer's disease. Autobiographical memory is the key part of our memory system, which allows repairs and maintenance of personal knowledge, self-image, and self-awareness and can retreat past events from our lives. People with Alzheimer's disease's autobiographical memory are declined, and it is difficult for them to relive past events of their lives. Studies tried to reduce the damage of autobiographical memory by centering sensory signals.
Studies have also shown that music and odor are powerful benefactors of involuntary recovery by shrinking the time it will take to recover memories. Involuntary autobiographical memories are conscious memories of one's life events, and those memories come to the mind suddenly. Olfactory signals are connected to emotions and memories, which are the hippocampus and amygdala. Neuro-imaging studies show that odor-evoked memories are distinguished by the brain area activation associated with memory recovery and the cortex process of olfactory and recruit the brain regions that were operated during visual imagery and emotions.
El Haj et al. (2017) presented a case study of 28 participants that were in serious stage of Alzheimer's disease and other 30 participants in good health that were control participants. The Alzheimer's disease participants were enrolled from their retirement homes and diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease dementia by a neurologist/geriatrician based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association's clinical criteria. The control participants in this case were independent, lived their own homes, and lived with a spouse or relative of Alzheimer's disease participants. Each participant was tested separately in three sessions: after exposure to music and odor, and in controlled conditions.
They were then given three minutes to give detailed accounts of their specific memories ignited, and were informed about the time limit for them to construct those memories accordingly and avoid bias from distractions. A small bottle of essential oils was opened, and participants had to smell the scents with their eyes closed and were asked to explain the memory that popped into their minds. Two pieces of music were played for the participants, and they had to recall a memory. However, control participants were informed in silence with odor-free air. The outcome of memories being recovered after exposure to odor and music in Alzheimer's disease participants was discovered to have high precision, higher emotional experiences, mental time travels, and shorter comeback time compared to control condition.
Researchers inquired whether exposure would improve difficulties that recover memories in Alzheimer's disease patients. 26 participants with serious Alzheimer's disease and other 28 participants in good health were all tested to recover recent, adulthood, and childhood memories after exposure to odor and before being exposed to odor. The outcome of this study showed Alzheimer's disease patients had a high number and were more certain to memories in recent, adulthood, and childhood experiences after exposure to odor and before being exposed to odor. The olfactory bulb is the first area that is affected by Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The senses of smell are weaker in the early stages of people with these diseases. Correlating with different activities with different scents helps reduce confusion for dementia people with what is going on. The scents can be essential oils, toast, and coffee in the mornings, or a loved one's favorite perfume or aftershave oils.
The same aroma every night before bed for someone with dementia and Alzheimer's disease helps them settle for bed. Rosemary, peppermint, and lemon scents are not a good smell to help someone with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Essential oils are part of aromatherapy which is good for people with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Multiple essential oils effectively treat Alzheimer's disease and dementia symptoms through smelling and rubbing into the skin. Lavender smells are calming and balance strong emotions. Lemon balm is very effective and useful to people with Alzheimer diseases and dementia. Peppermint stimulates the mind and calms nerves, and corrects the absent-mind.
Rosemary oils improve cognitive performance, stimulate the mind and body. Essential oils trigger certain memories for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The purpose of my proposal is to investigate further the extent to which scent memory can be used as a means to assist bring back memory in persons with dementia. If scents can spark memories, then persons with dementia conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, may be triggered to recall certain memories when undergoing scent training.
Paper For Above Instructions
The exploration of olfactory memory—that is, how scent influences memory recall—has emerged as a significant area of research, especially in contexts related to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This paper examines how the sense of smell can be employed to trigger memories in individuals suffering from dementia, potentially offering therapeutic benefits that could improve their quality of life.
Memory is intricately linked with our sensory experiences, and the sense of smell is arguably one of the most profound among them. The unique neural pathways involved in olfactory processing connect directly to the amygdala and hippocampus—regions of the brain critical for emotion and memory (Intriago, 2016). Research suggests that smells can evoke potent autobiographical memories, especially those associated with strong emotions (El Haj & Giachet, 2016). Understanding how these mechanisms function within the brain is essential for developing effective therapeutic interventions for individuals with dementia.
One of the fundamental patterns observed in dementia patients is a decline in autobiographical memory, which is essential for maintaining a coherent sense of self. Autobiographical memories form the foundation of personal identity, and their loss can result in decreased self-awareness and emotional distress (El Haj & Giachet, 2016). Research shows that exposure to sensory stimuli such as music and scents can facilitate the recall of these memories, suggesting a potential avenue for therapeutic interventions (El Haj et al., 2017).
In clinical settings, olfactory stimulation has been tested with promising results. For example, a study assessing the effects of olfactory and auditory stimuli on memory recall demonstrated that Alzheimer’s patients exhibited a greater number of recalled memories when prompted with specific scents and music (El Haj et al., 2019). Such findings validate the idea that smells can serve as powerful cues for memory retrieval, restoring connections to the past that individuals with dementia struggle to access.
Additionally, the therapeutic use of essential oils has gained traction in treating dementia-related symptoms. Aromatherapy, which utilizes the natural scents of plant extracts, may alleviate anxiety and enhance cognitive function. Essential oils like lavender are particularly noted for their calming properties, while lemon balm has been documented as having a favorable impact on cognitive function among dementia patients (Best-alzheimers-products.com, 2010). As such, incorporating these treatments can optimize the living conditions of those affected by cognitive impairment.
Furthermore, establishing consistent scent-related routines can create a sense of familiarity for dementia patients. For instance, using a particular scent as a nighttime ritual can signal the approach of bedtime, potentially easing anxiety and promoting better sleep patterns. Detailed research indicates that routines anchored by sensory stimuli, including scents, contribute to emotional stability and assurance in individuals with cognitive decline (Bowles, 2007).
In conclusion, the sense of smell offers a unique and promising approach to memory retrieval in individuals with dementia. While the research is still developing, preliminary findings indicate substantial benefits to using olfactory stimuli in therapeutic contexts. The integration of scent training can not only help retrieve memories but may also enhance the overall well-being of patients living with dementia. Future studies should continue to explore the relationship between olfactory memory and emotional health to substantiate the application of these findings.
References
- Best-alzheimers-products.com. (2010). Olfactory stimulation for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Bowles, J. (2007). Remember that Smell - Dementia Care International. Dementiacareinternational.com.
- El Haj M, Gandolphe MC, Gallouj K, Kapogiannis D, Antoine P. (2017). From nose to memory: The involuntary nature of odor-evoked autobiographical memories in Alzheimer’s disease. Chem Senses. 43(1):27–34.
- El Haj M, Giachet O. (2016). Emotional and phenomenological properties of odor-evoked autobiographical memories in Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Sci. 9(6):135.
- El Haj M, Moustafa AA, Gallouj K, El Haj M. (2019). Smell your memories: Positive effect of odor exposure on recent and remote autobiographical memories in Alzheimer’s disease. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 41(6):555–564.
- Intriago J. (2016). The connection between smells and memory. Seniorsmatter.com.