Aromatherapy with lavender, rosemary, chamomile and other essential oils may temporarily relieve anxiety and emotional disturbances in elderly adults with dementia. As part of a comprehensive approach to medical treatment, aromatic essential oils may be inhaled or massaged into the skin to ease agitation and improve cognitive function in seniors. If you're planning care for an elderly person with dementia, consult a medical professional about the potential benefits and side effects of aromatherapy. Clinical evidence has not confirmed that aromatherapy is an effective treatment for dementia.
Significance
Dementia symptoms in elderly adults include behavioral disturbances, mood changes, agitation and loss of cognitive function. Aromatherapy, the use of concentrated plant extracts for curative purposes, provides soothing sensory stimulation that may relieve agitation and boredom in elderly adults with dementia. Symptoms such as wandering, aggression and sleep loss increase the risk of injury in frail older adults who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions that affect memory and cognition. Restoring a sense of calm may increase safety, improve quality of life and reduce stress on caregivers. More research is required to confirm the benefits of aromatherapy for elderly adults.
Cognitive Function
Although clinical research hasn't established a clear cause for the calming effects of aromatherapy, the University of Maryland Medical Center proposes that inhaling essential oils may trigger smell receptors that stimulate the hippocampus and amygdala: areas of the brain responsible for emotional responses, memory and mental health. A study published in the December 2009 issue of "Psychogeriatrics" analyzed the effects of aromatherapy on elderly adults with dementia. Study participants received aromatherapy treatment with essential rosemary and lemon oils in the morning and lavender and orange oils at night. All participants showed improvement in their orientation, or their sense of self and awareness of their surroundings, with no negative side effects. The authors conclude that aromatherapy may be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of dementia; however, more research is required to confirm this conclusion.
Anxiety Reduction
Aromatherapy combined with hand massage may relieve anxiety in seniors with dementia. A study of the effects of lavender aromatherapy on elderly women with Alzheimer's disease, published in the December 2006 issue of the "International Journal of Neuroscience," proposes that aromatherapy may be an effective way to ease the anxiety associated with Alzheimer's disease. After three weeks of receiving 20-minute hand massages with rosemary, lavender, lemon, orange and chamomile three times a week, the women in the study showed reduced anxiety and improved self-esteem. The authors note the need for further studies using more objective, clinical research methods to confirm the results of their study.
Considerations
Before using aromatherapy to reduce anxiety or sharpen cognitive function in older adults, caregivers should explore other causes of behavioral disturbances to plan the most effective treatment. Aromatherapy does not resolve agitation caused by medication interactions, infections or disruptions in personal care. In some elderly patients, compounds in the plant extracts used in aromatherapy can cause adverse reactions. Rosemary, spike lavender and other stimulating essential oils may have harmful effects on older adults with high blood pressure. Cinnamon oil can cause irritation when applied directly to the skin. Consult a health-care provider about how to integrate aromatherapy safely into a treatment plan for dementia.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Aromatherapy; S.D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., Sept. 7, 2009
- "The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Recognition and Management of Behavioral Disturbances in Dementia; A.K. Desai, M.D., et al.; 2001
- "Psychogeriatrics"; Effect of Aromatherapy on Patients with Alzheimer's Disease; D. Jimbo, et al.; December 2009
- "International Journal of Neuroscience"; Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Anxiety and Self-Esteem...; K.H. Rho, et al.; December 2006
- "British Medical Journal"; Sensory Stimulation in Dementia...; E. Moniz-Cook; March 22, 2003
