Running head: CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 1
Running head: CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 1
Creating Memories through Sense of Smell for Dementia
Name: Aminata Sillah
Institution: Kean University
Date: March 5, 2021
CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 2
Creating Memories through Sense of Smell for Dementia
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 (Intriago, 2016). 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 (Intriago, 2016). 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 (Intriago, 2016). 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 (El Haj and Giachet, 2016). 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
CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 3
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 and Giachet, 2016).
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 own their own in their 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.
CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 4
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 (El Haj et al., 2019). The outcome of
this study showed Alzheimer’s disease patients had high number and were more certain to
memories in recent, adulthood and childhood experiences after exposure to odor and before
being exposed to odor.
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 (Bowles, 2007). The same aroma every night before bed for
someone with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease helps them settle for bed. Rosemary,
peppermint, 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 skins. 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, stimulates the mind and body (Best-alzheimers-
products.com, 2010). Essential oils trigger certain memories for dementia, including Alzheimer’s
disease.
CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 5
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, maybe
triggered to recall certain memories when undergoing scent training.
CREATING MEMORIES THROUGH SENSE OF SMELL FOR DEMENTIA 6
References
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.
Glachet O, El Haj M. 2019. Emotional and phenomenological properties of odor-evoked
autobiographical memories in Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Sci. 9(6):135.
Glachet O, 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.
Joy Bowles BSc. E. 2007 Mar 8. Remember that Smell – Dementia Care International.
Dementiacareinternational.com. https://dementiacareinternational.com/2007/03/remember-
thatsmell/.
Olfactory stimulation for Alzheimer’s and dementia. 2010 Jan 6. Best-alzheimers-
products.com. https://best-alzheimers-products.com/olfactory-stimulation.html.
Intriago J. The connection between smells and memory. Seniorsmatter.com. 2016 Apr 25.
https://www.seniorsmatter.com/connection-smells-memory/249223
