Abstract
Eucalyptol is one of the most popular volatile components. It is used in many essential oils for relieving sinus and lung congestion caused by a variety of conditions. This pilot study sought to analyze clinical evidence for the effect of the scent of eucalyptol on the cognitive function of elderly people. Seventy nursing-home residents with cognitive impairment were recruited. Three one-week experiments were performed: eucalyptol scent was diffused in bedrooms with a diffuser only at wake-up time in the first experiment, and at wake-up time and bedtime in the second and third experiments. Results showed that although an improvement was not seen when using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Cohen-Mansfild Agitation Inventory (CMAI) measures, Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale (DBD) scores improved significantly, even though no subject reported perceiving the scent. The significant improvements of the behaviour were found not only among the subjects whose room had a diffuser but also among the subjects who were exposed to an unperceivable level of eucalyptol drifted in the living room.
Highlights
Aromatherapy with essential oils has been used in many countries from ancient times
It is noticeable that the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) of Group 1 was slightly improved during the 1st test and decreased 2.4 points over the approximately 4 months between the two experiment periods, which may mean that the dementia www.nature.com/scientificreports
Significance was established at p < 0.05: *and a result was considered to be trending at p < 0.1. *Indicates the significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the results of the second experiment with the subjects who had a diffuser in their bedrooms (Group 1)
Summary
Aromatherapy with essential oils has been used in many countries from ancient times. Aromas trigger physical and mood improvement via the olfactory system[1,2]. Because subjects became more alert and their mood significantly improved while observing the garden, the effects of visiting the garden were hypothesized to involve olfactory stimulation[7,8] Pursuing this finding is not straightforward as different parts of plants emit different scents, and scents from the same parts can differ based on freshness. Eucalyptol enhances blood circulation[18], and Ambrosch reported that dermal application of eucalyptol increased brain activation in the frontal cortex and significantly improved brain function related to working memory in rats[19] Based on this evidence, we measured the effects of eucalyptol scent on elderly Japanese adults with dementia who were residents in a nursing home[20]
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