Do You Know What Your Nose Knows About Your Brain?

The Nose Knows

Mental acuity, cognitive wellness, neurological health - whatever you want to call it, is a growing consideration for the average person. Concerns over neurological health and disease span every age and culture. We worry about what's going on "up there" in light of digital, physical, and emotional overload. We look for nutritional, physical, and therapeutic support to counteract the overwhelming demand on our minds. While a healthy diet and exercise are always essential, there is a new area of focus that is as obvious as the nose on our faces. In fact, it IS the nose!

Research on brain health is pointing more and more to our most primal sense as the best route to the brain. Our olfactory system is the only unfiltered and immediate pathway to the brain (Ya-Kui et al 2024). It ignites the limbic system instantaneously and repeatedly. The olfactory bulb signals the piriform cortex (where smell identification happens) and the amygdala (the seat of our memory and emotions) simultaneously. Do you know the sense of smell is processed faster than sight?

The sense of smell is proving to be the most important primary sense in the context of preventative medicine. Recent studies indicate that smell tests serve as the most effective early indicators of neurodegenerative disease. A diminished sense of smell often precedes the motor or cognitive symptoms of conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's years in advance (Liu et al 2023, Winchester, et al. 2020, ZHOU et al 2025). A recent article published by UC Irvine News stated "Scientists have long known that the loss of olfactory capacity, or ability to smell, can predict over 70 neurological and psychiatric diseases." The Michael J. Fox Foundation recommends anyone over the age of 40 have a smell test. Studies also show the nose-to-brain relationship can work in reverse! By actively training the olfactory system, it may be possible to strengthen neural pathways before significant damage occurs. This is the foundation for an "exercise" routine for the brain called Olfactory Enrichment Training. Yes, "PT" for the brain!

Olfactory Enrichment Training is quickly becoming a leading method for neurological revitalization, showing beneficial results in reversing signs of neurodegenerative diseases. The process of OET stimulates neuroplasticity, encouraging the brain to form new connections and repair or bypass damaged ones (al Ain et al 2019, Kolindorfer et al 2014). Clinical trials have demonstrated that consistent olfactory training can improve cognitive scores and slow the progression of decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment. To maximize the efficacy of this training, essential oils are the vehicle of choice due to their multifaceted benefits. These concentrated plant extracts are ideal due to their pure, potent, and distinct properties (Spisni et al 2023).

However, the complexity of selecting the right products, properties, and protocols indicates that working with a Certified Aromatherapist provides significant advantages in this process. A certified professional can assess an individual's specific needs, allergies, and sensitivities to create a custom regime. They can ensure quality assurance (Amorati et al 2013) and the targeting of specific goals. Furthermore, they provide the necessary accountability and adjustment of the program as the individual progresses, ensuring that the training remains effective and safe over the long term.

As the link between the nose and the brain becomes clearer, Olfactory Enrichment Training (OET) stands out as a powerful tool for preserving the mind (Gelrich et al 2018).

Ambient Wellness Essentials developed our reMINDer Olfactory Enrichment Training Program specifically with brain health in mind! After years of following the science, we tracked the most effective methods, developed a regiment, and, in 2024, launched our own pilot program in order to fine tune this revolutionary method. Now, we are excited to share this simple, safe, and affordable method with you.

References:

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Amorati, R.; Foti, M.C.; Valgimigli, L. Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2013, 61, 10835–10847.

Delgado-Lima AH, Bouhaben J, Delgado-Losada ML. The efficacy of olfactory training in improving olfactory function: a meta-analysis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2024 Oct;281(10):5267-5284. doi: 10.1007/s00405-024-08733-7. Epub 2024 May 27. PMID: 38802578; PMCID: PMC11416427. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11416427/ 

Fatuzzo I, Niccolini GF, Zoccali F, Cavalcanti L, Bellizzi MG, Riccardi G, de Vincentiis M, Fiore M, Petrella C, Minni A, Barbato C. Neurons, Nose, and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Olfactory Function and Cognitive Impairment. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 20;24(3):2117. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032117. PMID: 36768440; PMCID: PMC9916823.

Gellrich, J., Han, P., Manesse, C., Betz, A., Junghanns, A., Raue, C., Schriever, V.A. and Hummel, T. (2018), Brain volume changes in hyposmic patients before and after olfactory training. The Laryngoscope, 128: 1531-1536. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.27045

Kollndorfer K, Kowalczyk K, Hoche E, Mueller CA, Pollak M, Trattnig S, Schöpf V. Recovery of olfactory function induces neuroplasticity effects in patients with smell loss. Neural Plast. 2014;2014:140419. doi: 10.1155/2014/140419. Epub 2014 Dec 3. PMID: 25544900; PMCID: PMC4269319.

Pacyna RR, Han SD, Wroblewski KE, McClintock MK, Pinto JM. Rapid olfactory decline during aging predicts dementia and GMV loss in AD brain regions. Alzheimer's Dement. 2023; 19: 1479–1490. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12717

Liu S, Jiang Z, Zhao J, Li Z, Li R, Qiu Y, Peng H. Disparity of smell tests in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Sep 7;15:1249512. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1249512. PMID: 37744388; PMCID: PMC10512741.

Spisni, Enzo, Maria Chiara Valerii, and Maria Lina Massimino. 2023. "Essential Oil Molecules Can Break the Loop of Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases" Biology 12, no. 12: 1504. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12121504

Winchester, R.L., Martyn, K. Could Early Identification of Changes in Olfactory Function Be an Indicator of Preclinical Neurodegenerative Disease? A Systematic Review. Neurol Ther 9, 243–263 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-020-00199-z

Ya-Kui Mou, Xiao-Yu Song, Han-Rui Wang, Yao Wang, Wan-Chen Liu, Ting Yang, Ming-Jun Zhang, Yue Hu, Chao Ren, Xi-Cheng Song,

Understanding the nose-brain axis and its role in related diseases: A conceptual review, Neurobiology of Disease, Volume 202,2024,106690,ISSN 0969-9961,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106690.

Zhou F, Zhao Z, Dai J, Xu J, Jiang K, Tong Z. Olfactory Testing With Focus on Odor Identification for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2025 Jan-Dec;40:15333175251385615. doi: 10.1177/15333175251385615. Epub 2025 Sep 30. PMID: 41027650; PMCID: PMC12484899.