2023-05-16 08:15:39
A Spanish study suggests that smelling menthol would improve cognitive abilities and limit the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Mint is a plant with multiple virtues. Much appreciated in summer cooking and cocktails, it also comes in many varieties of essential oils. Moreover, peppermint essential oil has several health benefits. It calms the effects of motion sickness, treats indigestion and can even soothe itching.
All these virtues are due to the presence of menthol in the composition of the plant. However, this organic compound could also be used to fight certain diseases. It is in this perspective that the University of Navarre (Spain) became interested in mint.
A team of researchers has studied the relationship between the use of smell and its impact on our brain activity. The findings were shared on the university’s official website and they highlight the beneficial effect of menthol.
A compound with preventive properties at first
First, the researchers determined the potential positive effects of inhaling menthol scent. However, they found that the smell modulated the immune system. Concretely, this translates into a boost in the capacities of our defense system or a reduction in its effects. In the case of this study, it is a boosting effect that is observed.
In effect, it would increase the cognitive abilities of animals. For the time being, only tests on mice have been carried out. However, the researchers are hopeful that this experiment will have the same effects on the human brain. Moreover, exposure to the odor over short periods would also make it possible to prevent the deterioration of brain capacity caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
To verify this theory, the researchers combined the action of menthol with a treatment already used against this disease.
The menthol integrated into certain treatments which have made it possible to treat sick mice
The researchers explain that when menthol is inhaled, the level of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), a protein essential for the inflammatory response, is reduced. For 6 months, they thus observed the sick mice. And smell has played a key role in improving animal health. The action of menthol had a real preventive effect on the cognitive decline of mice.
This experience thus paves the way for future experiments on human patients. Eventually, olfactory treatments with potentially other beneficial scents could be offered.
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