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Smell Training for Brain Health?
An article in the New York Times discussed the apparent connection between smelling and brain functions. Odor discernment is a function that tends to decrease and even disappear with age, but intentional training can regain smell recognition, and some studies indicate that smell training can improve mood and word recall. Other studies show that smell training can encourage new cell growth in important areas of the brain.
Training is simple and inexpensive, consisting of daily moments intentionally sniffing enjoyable odors.
The Times article link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/18/well/mind/nose-mental-health-brain-smell.html
Searching "smell training therapy" will provide many links. Here is a simple one: https://www.enthealth.org/be_ent_smart/smell-retraining-therapy/
I've decided to incorporate smell training into my morning balance/leg strength routine. I'll be curious to hear from others about this.
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@trishaanderson
Hi, Trish-
I've not purchased the machine.
I do have 6 bottles of essential oils by my computer keyboard, and sniff them regularly.
I can say that 1) I enjoy smelling them and 2) Smelling them perks me up.
Ed
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1 Reaction@edsutton I do the same. I have a box of 10 small bottles of essential oils, 5 of which I enjoy. I smell them every morning as I catch up on my Mayo Clinic Connect.
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1 Reactionggcrow, Thanks for the information. Good to know that the devise actually does provide some good. Hope you enjoy all the odors of the world for a long time to come. AND...that you get the same benefits for your memories. My reason for getting the Memory Air, is strictly for my terrible memory. It's only been a few days since it arrived, so there is no way of knowing if it will benefit me yet. As to the strange odor/aroma that I was experiencing when it first arrived = that has now changed. When it is not running, I still smell an odor/aroma, but it is no longer that sour smelling that I first noticed. It is now sort of sweeet (not bad) - but not recognizable.
Best to you, good luck with future success
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1 ReactionSeems like you could just order some essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, rose and lemon and sniff each oil for a minute 3 x a day for a lot less mula
I do something similar with my taste buds by playing the “jelly belly” game—I pull a jelly belly out of the bag without looking at it; then I try to identify the flavor. I usually have to “cheat” and pull it out of my mouth to check the color on the package. It’s a fun way to keep your tasting sense it the game!
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1 ReactionWhat is wrong with the other five, Trisha?
@barbaradh, I find them unpleasant. I've always been sensitive to odors and flavors. But I was thinking maybe those unpleasant oils would be more beneficial. In the last few days, I've been introducing one of the less pleasant scents to the usual five.
Update on my experience with "Memory Air".
After a little over one month of nightly use, my memory has not improved one iota. Of course as I posted in June, the clinical tests noted that they were only done on people up to 75 y.o. so at 92, I really didn't hold out much hope. I posted a message on the "Memory Air" web page that I had no success and received a return message, thanking me and saying that it was not guaranteed to work for everybody. The message went on to say that there was a pre-paid return label attached, and instructions as to how to make a return. They just asked that I call them when I put the item out for delivery and a refund would be made upon receipt.
FYI - When I purchased the unit, the guarantee was for 60 days. I noticed that later purchases were only for 30 days.
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2 ReactionsPlease let us know when the refund arrives!
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1 ReactionSmell is very important….i don’t mess with little bottles, but make a point of enjoying the lavender and other pleasant smells at the farmers’ markets…and enjoy the various roses in the neighborhood….always smell foods before i fix and eat them, and things like garlic, local basil and cinnamon….. However you do it, enjoy your natural sense of smell on a daily basis.
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