Study finds promise in smell training to harness neuroplasticity and improve brain health in older adults

___ An impaired sense of smell can signal cognitive decline, but ‘smell training’ could help (The Conversation): “As we age, we often have problems with our ability to smell (called olfactory dysfunction). Older people might not be able to identify an odour or differentiate one odour from another. In some cases they might not be able to detect an odour at all. Odour identification difficulties are common in people with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease … But there is emerging evidence that olfactory or “smell training” can improve ability to smell. Neuroplasticity, our brains’ ability to change continuously in response to experience, may be key to how smell training works. Neuroplasticity involves the generation of new connections and/or the strengthening of existing connections between neurons (brain cells), which in turn may lead to changes in thinking skills or behaviour. We can see evidence of neuroplasticity when we practise a skill such as playing an instrument or learning a new language. The olfactory network is considered particularly neuroplastic. Neuroplasticity may therefore underlie the positive results from smell training, both in terms of improving olfactory ability and boosting capacity for other cognitive tasks … using the considerable neuroplasticity of the olfactory network and evidence-based cognitive training techniques, both olfactory and cognitive deficits may be targeted, particularly in older adults at ris...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness anosmia brain health brain training cognitive-tasks dementia neurodegenerative neuroplasticity nose older-adults regeneration rhinology smell therapy Source Type: blogs