“As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.”
—Sir Norman Wisdom
You remember every word of that song from 50 years ago, where you were and who you were with when you first heard it. You even remember who sang it. More frequently though, you experience mild forgetfulness. You can’t immediately recall what you had for breakfast last Sunday or what is today’s date.
Short-term memory loss is a normal part of aging for many of us. There are many helpful ways to help with it including being active, staying socially engaged, maintaining good health and learning something new.
There may be one way, however, that will help improve your memory while you sleep:
Strange as it may seem, researchers at the University of California, Irvine found that when older adults were exposed to different scents while they slept, their memories greatly improved.
The study was relatively small, 43 men and women from ages 60 to 85. They were in good health physically and without memory impairment. They were divided into two groups, a control group (18 women – 5 men) and an enriched group (15 women – 5 men). Each participant received an odor diffuser filled with various liquids. These would be placed in their bedroom and distribute the scents for the first two hours each night.
Both groups received cartridges, each containing a single and different oil. The oils used in the study were: eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange, peppermint and rosemary.. Control group participants were given the oils in tiny amounts. The enriched group received cartridges with much higher concentrations. The participants put a different cartridge into their diffuser each evening when going to bed. It activated for two hours while they slept.
Results of the study were remarkable. The neuroscientists found that the enhanced group had a 226% increase in cognitive capacity compared to the control group, and they also reported they slept more soundly. The researchers add that the results of the study confirm the connection between smell and memory, that your sense of smell is directly connected to your brain’s memory circuits.
If you have been noticing memory issues recently, give this a try. Diffusers with timers are easily purchased at major stores like Target or Walmart. Prices vary but it looks like the majority sell in the $25 – $40 range.