Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of Neurology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Koca Mustafapasa Cd. No: 53, 34096, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
Neurol Sci. 2022 Dec;43(12):6901-6907. doi: 10.1007/s10072-022-06376-2. Epub 2022 Sep 6.
Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Despite miscellaneous antiseizure medications, resistance to treatment is still approximately 30%. This resistance brings forward the multidisciplinary approach and complementary treatments. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of olfactory training on epileptic seizures with special aromas having antiseizure effects in patients diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy.
A total of 24 patients (14 pediatric and 10 adults) with drug-resistant epilepsy were recruited for the study. Participants were asked to inhale the standardized bottle filled with lavender aroma (Lavandula Angustifolia) twice a day (morning and evening) for 30-45 s (2 cm in front of nose; 10-15 s to right and left nostril and 10-15 s to both nostrils) for 3 months. The type, frequency, duration of seizures, the quality of life (SF-36 and PedsQL 4.0), and olfactory functions (Sniffin' Sticks Test and Pediatric Smell Wheel) were re-assessed.
Statistical analysis showed that olfactory training decreased the seizure frequency (p < 0.001) and the seizure duration (p = 0.02). A global 50% seizure reduction was seen among patients. Moreover, olfactory training increased the quality of life (p = 0.003) and improved the olfactory function in both the pediatric and adult groups (p = 0.017, p = 0.05, respectively). There was no adverse reaction and no increase in seizure frequency.
The observations of the present investigation suggest that olfactory training is a successful complementary therapy with no adverse reaction in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Large cohort studies and longer follow-up periods are needed for providing olfactory training as a therapy modality in patients with epilepsy.
癫痫是一种以反复发作性癫痫发作为特征的慢性疾病。尽管有各种抗癫痫药物，但仍有约 30%的患者对治疗产生抵抗。这种抵抗需要采用多学科方法和补充治疗。本研究旨在探讨特殊气味（具有抗癫痫作用）嗅觉训练对诊断为耐药性癫痫患者癫痫发作的影响。
共招募了 24 名（儿童 14 名，成人 10 名）耐药性癫痫患者参加本研究。参与者被要求每天早晚两次（各 30-45 秒），每次用标准瓶吸入薰衣草香气（Lavandula Angustifolia）（距离鼻子 2 厘米处，右和左鼻孔各 10-15 秒，两个鼻孔各 10-15 秒），持续 3 个月。重新评估癫痫发作的类型、频率、持续时间、生活质量（SF-36 和 PedsQL 4.0）和嗅觉功能（Sniffin' Sticks 测试和小儿嗅觉轮）。
统计分析显示，嗅觉训练降低了癫痫发作频率（p<0.001）和发作持续时间（p=0.02）。50%的患者癫痫发作减少。此外，嗅觉训练提高了生活质量（p=0.003），并改善了儿童和成人组的嗅觉功能（p=0.017，p=0.05）。无不良反应，癫痫发作频率无增加。
本研究观察结果表明，嗅觉训练是一种成功的补充治疗方法，对耐药性癫痫患者无不良反应。需要进行更大规模的队列研究和更长的随访期，以确定嗅觉训练是否可作为癫痫患者的一种治疗方法。
