Menthol inhalation may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers from Cima University of Navarra (Spain) have shown in animal models of Alzheimer's disease that inhaling menthol improves cognitive ability. This study discovered that repeated short exposures to this substance can modulate the immune system and prevent the cognitive deterioration typical of this neurodegenerative disease. When analyzing its mechanism of action, they observed that when smelling this aroma, the level of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1b), a critical protein mediating the inflammatory response, was reduced. Furthermore, by inhibiting this protein with a drug approved for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases, they were also able to improve cognitive ability in these diseased mice.

Reference:

Casares, N., Alfaro, M., Cuadrado-Tejedor, M., Lasarte-Cia, A., Navarro, F., Vivas, I., Espelosin, M., Cartas-Cejudo, P., Fernández-Irigoyen, J., Santamaría, E., García-Osta, A., & Lasarte, J. J. (2023). Improvement of cognitive function in wild-type and Alzheimer´s disease mouse models by the immunomodulatory properties of menthol inhalation or by depletion of T regulatory cells. Frontiers in Immunology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1130044.