A new study shows that when mice with Alzheimer's disease inhaled menthol, their cognitive abilities improved . The compound appears to prevent the onset of the disease and reduce some of the damage to the brain.
The researchers specifically noted a reduction in the interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) protein, which helps regulate the body's inflammatory response, a response that can increase natural protection but can cause harm if not properly controlled.
In mice with Alzheimer's disease, a six-month course of menthol treatment was enough to halt cognitive and memory deterioration . Furthermore, a drug specifically designed to block this protein, used to treat certain autoimmune diseases, also improved cognition in both healthy and Alzheimer's mice .
Scientists have established many connections between our sense of smell and our immune and nervous systems, and while it's difficult to fully understand these relationships, we do know that our olfactory system strongly influences our brain. Certain smells can trigger reactions in the brain, leading to chemical reactions that affect memory, mood, and more.
In fact, diseases related to the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia , are often accompanied by loss of smell. These results suggest that smell and immune modulators may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other diseases related to the central nervous system. The study has been published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Many products on the market contain peppermint as an ingredient, such as Germany's famous " China Oel." Although the German translation is "China Oil" in both Chinese and English, China Oel uses medical-grade peppermint and is made using a unique triple-distillation technique. Its ingredients are 100% peppermint essential oil. This product is not only loved by locals, but is also a must-buy for many foreign tourists visiting Germany.