How You Can Boost Memory and Cognitive Function using Scents While You Sleep

Get the full show notes here: https://antiaginghacks.net/podcast/how-you-can-boost-memory-and-cognitive-function-using-scents-while-you-sleep/

Dr. Michael Leon, Professor Emeritus of the Institute of Memory Impairment & Disorders at the University of California Irvine. I’ve been researching how smell affects memory for over 35 years. I’m here to teach you more about how smell could improve your memory.


Here are our topics of discussion:

[1:54] Tell us who you are and your interest in brain health?
[2:26] The problem with Alzheimer's is that it's a huge problem for people that are entering their sixth decade of life or later, and just losing your memory can seem like the world is ending. Can you shed some light on why that might be? 
[5:50] So why is that system so unique among all the senses, Michael? 
[7:15] So is this a slow decline or is this pretty rapid once you hit 60 to 65? 
[7:50] And it seems like many people got their sense of smell back. I don't know if it came back 100%, but I don't know if you have any data or if you've heard any instances of people being able to recover their olfactory sense. 
[9:20] What prompted the study in the first place? How did you know to go down this path?
[11:18] Is it possible for humans to reverse the damage in the olfactory system, Which would require or necessitate rebuilding of neurons in some capacity, no?
[12:25] How did you design this study and what did you see from the start to finish of the participants that were in that study?
[14:32] So this was in six months, and we don't know what might happen if people continue to do this every night for, let's say, two years or three years, or if they stop doing it just in three months. That data is not present yet, is it?
[16:17] So what is the rationale or how do you come up with 40 odors? I didn't even know there were 40 essential oils. I'm assuming that's what you did. But is it only good odors? Could you have dirty, smelly socks or dirty, smelly humans as an odor?
[18:52] Can reversing olfactory loss help reduce inflammation and the risk for diseases like heart disease or cancer? 
[19:43] How can younger individuals (30s, 40s, 50s) use this technology? Is it one odor per night or all 40? 
[23:58] Can this treatment reverse dementia or delay the onset of memory loss? 
[25:51] Could this device be as effective as meditation for reducing stress?
[26:50] When will the device be available to the public?