Fight Dementia with Your NOSE?!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted June 21, 2023
Your basic senses can serve as an early warning system for your brain.
For example, I’ve warned before about the link between hearing loss and worsening brain health many times.
I’ve also explained how touch… or, in this case, grip strength… can be used to identify a rising risk for dementia.
And vision problems, such as judging distances or determining colors, are an often-overlooked early warning sign for brain issues.
But smell has to be the MOST underappreciated sense when it comes to monitoring brain health. And now a group of researchers warns we need to start paying attention.
The Link Between Brain Health and Smell
Earlier research uncovered a link between a fading sense of smell and rising risk for Alzheimer’s disease. And recently, scientists decided to investigate this link between smell and brain health further.
What they uncovered was stunning. I’ll have more on that discovery in a moment. But first, let’s take a quick look at how our nose and brain make a perfect pair.
Your sense of smell isn’t just intimately linked to your brain. It’s essentially PART of it.
When you smell something, that information is conveyed through long strands of wire-like nerve cells called axons. This means smell has a direct connection to your central nervous system and your immune system.
That connection means that what you smell can have a giant impact on your brain.
We see this play out in our everyday lives in various ways. For example, when a specific smell triggers a memory that transports you to an earlier time.
Plus, studies link aromatherapy (using natural plant extracts to promote healing) to better memory and stress reduction.
But the connection between the nose and brain became even MORE obvious with a recent animal experiment.
Menthol May Fight Cognitive Decline
When mice with Alzheimer’s were exposed to menthol for six months, it PREVENTED further cognitive decline. The researchers believe that menthol puts the brakes on brain damage by modulating the immune system.
Here’s how it works.
When you smell certain scents (like menthol), your body downregulates immune system components such as CD3, interleukin-1-beta, interleukin-6, and others. And that downregulation reduces inflammation in the brain.
In fact, after six months, the interleukin-1-beta levels in the impaired mice returned to normal.
But according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, the surprises didn’t end there. Incredibly, when the scientists exposed young healthy mice to a daily dose of menthol, it IMPROVED their cognitive ability.
Why this works isn’t easy to pin down. But we know that our sense of smell has a powerful impact on our brains. And the brain’s sensitivity to any given scent may be deeply rooted in our past.
So, it may be time to bring MORE scents into your life.
In this study, they used menthol, one of the main scent components in peppermint. I suggest trying straight peppermint instead. Finding fresh mint is easy, or you can grow your own. And peppermint essential oils are affordable and widely available.
Other strongly scented herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, have also been studied for their brain function benefits.
P.S. A fading sense of smell doesn’t always mean you’re coming down with a cold or a case of COVID. In fact, it’s linked to another deadly disease you should be on the lookout for as you age. CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
“Improvement of cognitive function in wild-type and Alzheimer´s disease mouse models by the immunomodulatory properties of menthol inhalation or by depletion of T regulatory cells,” Front. Immunol., 27 April 2023, Sec. Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Volume 1 – 2023, doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1130044
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...
Is Your Heart Older Than YOU?
Maybe you feel young for your age. Good energy, decent sleep, eating your veggies. But what if I told you your heart might be a decade older than the rest of you? That’s exactly what researchers at Northwestern University found in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology. The average American woman’s heart is about...