Memory loss in older adults may be treated with simple measures such as Aromatic rosemary essential oil, According to researchers The University of Northumbria Peppermint may help seniors regain lost memories, too.
Seniors who forget to take their medication can save their lives by having their home filled with natural, pleasant scents.
Dr. Mark Moss is the head of the psychology department at the University of Toronto. He wanted to test the memory effects of rosemary. The University of NorthumbriaA team of colleagues and I recruited 150 people over the age of 65 and randomly assigned them to one of three rooms. One room was scented. RosemaryAnother scent was: lavender There was 1 other one. Unscented.
The senior participants were asked to take tests that would assess their memory abilities upon entering the rooms. The tests were both event-based and time-based. For example, they required participants to remember to send a message at a particular time and to switch tasks when an event occurred. Moss and his colleagues assessed participants’ moods prior to and after the tests were completed in the unscented and scented rooms.
The researchers determined that the participants seated in the Rosemary room They performed significantly better than those who were in unscented and lavender rooms.
Read: Lavender and Rosemary Essential Oils to Boost Mood, Memory
Results also revealed that rosemary was associated to Significantly increased alertnessWhile lavender was associated with, Increased calmness and contentment.
Moss Submitted The Telegraph Scientists have scientifically proven what many people know for years about lavender and rosemary plants.
“I believe that the naturalistic observations of behavior are what have shaped wisdom throughout the ages.
There were herbalists who used to be present in every village. They would have given lavender to help you sleep and chamomile to calm your nerves. Their effects would have been documented for centuries and millennia. People did know that rosemary could affect memory, I believe.
My hypothesis is that rosemary compounds are absorbed into the blood via the lungs, and then sent to your brain for action on brain chemistry. [1]
Post-graduate student Lauren Bussey said:
“This is the first time similar effects have been shown in healthy older adults.” These aromas could have many benefits throughout life. More research is needed.
Similar conclusions are drawn from other research
Studies on brain tissue have shown that compounds found in the compounds were effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Rosemary can be used to stimulate activity.
The researchers also conducted a separate experiment in which 180 people were randomly assigned to drink a cup of plain water, peppermint tea or chamomile. After consuming their chosen beverage, participants were instructed to take 20 minutes to recover before being asked to complete cognitive tests. The subjects then completed another mood questionnaire.
Results showed that peppermint was the best choice for you. Improved working memory and long-term memory. Comparable to hot water and chamomile tea. Alternately, chamomile was found to be equally effective. Significantly slower attention and memory speedThis is in comparison to hot water and peppermint tea.
Read: Mint Scent boosts memory, problem solving and cognition.
This is not surprising considering that doctors often recommend chamomile tea as a gentle and safe way to relax before you go to bed at night.
Moss spoke out about the findings:
“The study revealed that peppermint’s arousing and enhancing effects, as well as the calming/sedative effects observed by chamomile, are consistent with their claimed properties and suggests that they can have beneficial effects.”
Scientists believe certain scents can affect brain function. This is because the nose’s scent receptors send messages to the brain. Amygdala The brain area that is associated with emotion, motivation, and emotional behavior – also known as the HippocampusThis is the brain’s memory centre.
The research was presented at Nottingham’s British Psychological Society annual conference.
Sources:
[1] ScienceDaily