A restful night’s sleep is one of the key habits for functional wellness that I prioritize. When I manage to get a full eight hours, my mood remains steady and relaxed. I have the energy to stay alert and even fit in a workout without succumbing to fatigue. (Though let’s be honest—naps can be quite beneficial for your brain!) In contrast, chronic sleep deprivation leaves me feeling down and irritable, making it difficult to concentrate or accomplish tasks with a clouded mind.
Enhancing Your Cognitive Function and Memory Through Sleep
Essential Oil Aromas
It’s clear that sleep plays a vital role in supporting cognitive health, but you can amplify its benefits with a straightforward wellness tool: an essential oil diffuser. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, examined the impact of scents on the cognitive abilities of older adults. Over six months, participants were provided with essential oil cartridges or “blank” cartridges. Diffusers were activated for two hours while they slept. Those in the fragrance group exhibited a remarkable 226% improvement in cognitive performance compared to the control group. This group also showed enhanced connectivity in the brain pathways linking the medial temporal lobe to the prefrontal cortex, alongside reports of better sleep quality.
Olfactory Sense and Neurological Health
As surprising as this study may seem, the relationship between our sense of smell and neurological or psychiatric conditions has been well documented. A diminished sense of smell is often associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and Parkinson’s. Moreover, loss of smell related to COVID-19 has been connected to cognitive decline. Researchers have been exploring the beneficial effects of “exercising” the sense of smell as a potential treatment for dementia, with patients noting improvements in memory and language skills.
Smell and Enhanced Cognitive Abilities
The power of scent in boosting memory extends to individuals of all ages. Numerous studies indicate that students who study while exposed to a particular aroma tend to recall the material better when they encounter the same scent later. Have an important presentation or exam coming up? Practice your script while wearing your favorite fragrance, and be sure to wear it again on the big day.
Incorporating cognitive care into your daily routine can be as simple as selecting your preferred essential oil and activating your diffuser. I personally enjoy using one from Saje. The study didn’t focus on specific scents, as participants benefited from a variety of aromas, indicating that the key was in stimulating their olfactory senses rather than the type of fragrance. However, rosemary and peppermint are two scents commonly linked to clarity and memory enhancement.
