Age-Related Olfactory and Cognitive Decline: Potential Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis and Carum carvi Essential Oils.

Age-related declines in olfactory function, gustatory perception, and cognitive abilities were assessed across different age groups in a sample of 402 healthy participants.

• The study evaluated odor threshold, discrimination, and identification using the Sniffin' Sticks test.
• Gustatory perceptions assessed included sweet, sour, salty, and bitter taste using the Taste Strips test.
• Cognitive functions evaluated included attention, memory, language, and visuospatial/executive functions.
• Participants were healthy individuals assessed across different age groups.

Olfactory function was identified as a potential early indicator of attentional, memory, language, and visuospatial/executive dysfunctions.

• The study found possible correlations between aging-related changes in olfactory functions and cognitive functions.
• The cognitive domains correlated with olfactory decline included attention, memory, language, and visuospatial/executive abilities.
• This relationship was assessed in the 402 participant cohort spanning different age groups.

Rosemary and caraway essential oils were perceived without any significant decrease in odor pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity ratings in relation to aging.

• The trigeminal function component of the study involved 59 participants.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils were evaluated using ratings of odor pleasantness, intensity, and familiarity on a labeled hedonic Likert-type scale.
• The essential oils contain carvone, limonene, and 1,8-cineole, all of which are considered typical trigeminal stimuli.
• No significant age-related decrease was found in any of the three perceptual ratings (pleasantness, intensity, familiarity) for either essential oil.

Aging is characterized by decreases in olfactory, attentional, memory, language, and visuospatial/executive abilities.

• The study specifically assessed odor threshold, discrimination, and identification as components of olfactory function.
• Gustatory perceptions of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter taste were also evaluated in the context of age-related changes.
• Both olfactory and gustatory functions were examined alongside cognitive decline as part of the broader aging phenotype.

Rosemary and caraway natural essential oils were suggested as a potential new strategy to promote healthy aging based on their perceived bioactive effects.

• The suggestion is based on findings that trigeminal stimulation from these EOs was not significantly diminished with aging.
• The bioactive compounds identified include carvone, limonene, and 1,8-cineole.
• The authors framed this as a natural EO-based approach in the context of age-related olfactory and cognitive decline.