A study on the effectiveness of reminiscence using olfactory stimulation for the prevention of dementia in elderly people living in the community.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K11283
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Hanaoka Hideaki 広島大学, 医系科学研究科(保), 教授 (10381419)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 回想法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The increase in the number of elderly people with dementia has become a social issue, and there is a need for non-drug programs to help prevent dementia. Recently, reminiscence has been attracting attention as one such means, and efforts have begun targeting elderly people living in the community. However, there has not been sufficient research on how to implement the program and the cues to encourage reminiscence.
In this study, we focused on olfactory stimulation as a cue to promote reminiscence, investigated appropriate types of olfactory stimulation, and conducted a reminiscence method using olfactory stimulation on elderly people living in the community to examine its effects on risk factors for developing dementia, and found no difference in its effects from commonly practiced reminiscence methods. The results suggest that there is no difference in the effects between the general reminiscence method and the olfactory stimulation method.

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。しかし、その方法論の確立が課題となっており、頻繁に使用される回想手がかりについて、その根拠を求める検討は、更に継続する必要がある。高齢者にとって、根拠があり、効果が期待できる、無理なく継続できるアプローチ方法が増えることは、今後の地域支援において、取り組みの選択肢を増やすことに繋がる。