Nagasaki University, School of Environmental Science, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan.
Shiga University, School of Environmental Science, Shiga, 522-8533, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 4;10(1):3996. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61045-8.
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.
桉油醇是最受欢迎的挥发性成分之一。它被用于许多精油中，用于缓解由多种情况引起的鼻窦和肺部充血。这项初步研究旨在分析桉油醇气味对老年人认知功能的影响的临床证据。招募了 70 名有认知障碍的养老院居民。进行了三个为期一周的实验：在第一个实验中，仅在起床时间用扩散器在卧室中散发桉油醇气味，在第二个和第三个实验中，在起床时间和就寝时间散发。结果表明，尽管使用 Mini Mental State Examination（MMSE）和 Cohen-Mansfild Agitation Inventory（CMAI）测量时没有看到改善，但痴呆行为障碍量表（DBD）的评分显著改善，尽管没有受试者报告感觉到气味。行为的显著改善不仅出现在使用扩散器的受试者中，而且也出现在在客厅中暴露于难以察觉的桉油醇水平的受试者中。
