Olfactory Stimulation for Memory Retrieval and Cognitive Improvement in Dementia: A Narrative Review

Dementia disrupts memory recall and cognitive function. Slow progress in developing safe and effective medication to treat this impairment necessitates exploration of novel interventions, such as sensory stimulation. Compared with other sensory cues, scents tend to evoke stronger and longer-lasting emotions, which can consolidate and retrieve memories and activate broader cognitive centers.1 This connection between scent, emotion, and memory suggests deliberate daily exposure to odorants could target and stimulate olfactory-linked brain regions in memory and cognition.