In a unique olfactory study at the University of Chicago, 57- to 85-year-olds who had difficulty identifying the universally renowned smells of orange, leather, peppermint, rose and fish were twice as likely to be at risk of developing dementia within five years versus those who could quickly and accurately identify the odours. But why? Scientists have speculated that early signs of memory decline might start in our brain’s odour recognition region before they even show up in the brain cortex (the part responsible for thinking, perceiving, producing and understanding language). With no olfactory training offered up in the study’s conclusion, we think it’d be a fun idea to regularly have a sniff of The Big Five and get your scent training on!
