Development of reminiscence therapy program using olfactory stimuli on cognitive functions and depression in community-dwelling elderly people

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K01506
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: HANAOKA Hideaki 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 教授 (10381419)
• Research Collaborator: MURAKI Toshiaki ; OKAMURA Hitoshi
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 回想 / 予防

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This investigation was first conducted in focus on the Japanese version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT-J), which uses odorous substances familiar to Japanese people. This study demonstrated that 16 different odorous substances, including burning incense, yuzu, and apple, were linked to reminiscences of elderly people at a rate of 70% or higher. This study was secondly to examine the effects of reminiscence using olfactory stimuli on cognitive function and depression in the two-grouped community-dwelling elderly people. In the intervention group, the sessions were performed 12 times using olfactory cards. In the control group, they were similarly performed using language cards. The results suggested that reminiscence therapy using odors as its cues could exhibit some possibility as a program to maintain and improve the mental health of community-dwelling elderly people.

Free Research Field

老年期作業療法学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

回想法は、非薬物療法の心理社会的アプローチとして、高齢者の精神的健康や認知機能の維持・向上を目指した取り組みが行われている。高齢者の回想を促す手段として、写真や音楽などが回想手がかりとして用いられているが、その根拠は示されていない。また、回想法の効果についても、これまで認知症高齢者を中心に報告が行われ、地域在住高齢者を対象とした効果検討は十分行われていない状況にある。
本研究は、回想法を行う際に嗅覚刺激を回想手がかりとして用いる根拠について示唆を与え、地域在住高齢者に対する介護予防の一つの手段として、回想法プログラムの活用の可能性を示した研究と言える。