INSERM, U1028; CNRS, UMR5292; Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Neuroplasticity and Neuropathology of Olfactory Perception Team, Lyon F-69000, France; University Lyon, Lyon F-69000, France; University Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, F-69000, France.
Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence RI 02912, United States.
Neurobiol Aging. 2019 Oct;82:18-29. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.06.007. Epub 2019 Jul 3.
Anxiety disorders represent 1 of the most common classes of psychiatric disorders. In the aging population and for patients with age-related pathology, the percentage of people suffering of anxiety is significantly elevated. Furthermore, anxiety carries with it an increased risk for a variety of age-related medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and increased severity of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. A variety of anxiolytic compounds are available but often carry with them disturbing side effects that impact quality of life. Among nonmedicinal approaches to reducing anxiety, odor diffusion and aromatherapy are the most popular. In this review, we highlight the emerging perspective that the use of odorants may reduce anxiety symptoms or at least potentiate the effect of other anxiolytic approaches and may serve as an alternative form of therapy to deal with anxiety symptoms. Such approaches may be particularly beneficial in aging populations with elevated risk for these disorders. We also discuss potential neural mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic effects of odorants based on work in animal models.
焦虑障碍是最常见的精神障碍之一。在老年人群体和患有与年龄相关疾病的患者中，焦虑症患者的比例显著升高。此外，焦虑症会增加多种与年龄相关的疾病的风险，包括心血管疾病、中风、认知能力下降以及帕金森病运动症状的严重程度增加。有多种抗焦虑化合物可用，但它们常常带有影响生活质量的令人不安的副作用。在减轻焦虑的非药物方法中，气味扩散和芳香疗法最为流行。在这篇综述中，我们强调了一个新的观点，即使用气味剂可能会减轻焦虑症状，或者至少增强其他抗焦虑方法的效果，并且可以作为一种替代的治疗方法来处理焦虑症状。这种方法在焦虑症风险较高的老年人群体中可能特别有益。我们还根据动物模型的研究讨论了气味剂抗焦虑作用的潜在神经机制。
