Most people know that smells can instantly bring back memories, because they affect our brain a lot.
Now, scientists have proven that smells can even boost your memory.
Let's find out how it works.
More about the research
A fragrance study conducted by University of California, Irvine neuroscientists involved older adults for six months.
The participants experienced a 226% increase in cognitive capacity compared to the control group when a scent wafted through their bedrooms for two hours each night.
This easy and non-invasive technique strengthened memory and potentially deterred dementia.
The enriched group received full-strength scent cartridges while the control group received tiny amounts.
The study revealed better brain pathway integrity and improved sleep quality for the enriched group.
Why is it important?
Loss of olfactory capacity has been linked to neurological and psychiatric diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The researchers aimed to develop a simple dementia-fighting tool and found that participants exposed to seven different scents during sleep experienced significant memory improvements.
The study supports the long-known connection between smell and memory.
