It’s no secret that essential oils can aid with memory and cognitive function however there has been new research to show that just varying the aromas that we are exposed to has similar success. This is not due to the effects of the oils themselves but rather the effect of olfactory stimulation – simply increasing the variety of scents. The improvement is brought about by strengthening pathways in the brain that are important for memory and learning.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine demonstrates how this works. Participants were asked to diffuse different essential oils over a period of six months for two hours each night as they were falling asleep. It was initially thought that a greater number of aromas would give a better result however as the study intended to test a ‘simple’ method, the number of samples was limited to just seven. The participants were tested using cognitive function tests and brain scans before and after the study.
The results showed a 226% improvement in the test group, compared to the control group. This is quite a staggering result for a simple technique that can be done at home. The study was carried using healthy particpants however the intention was to extend the research in the future to people with cognitive decline.
Click on the link to find out more about using essential oils to maintain cognitive function, including links to the original research study.