The effects of ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. and Thomson) essential oil on behavioural symptoms and plasma biomarkers in long-term care residents with dementia

• Published in: ANNALS OF PHYTOMEDICINE-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
• Main Authors: Sivasankar, Thisha Abirami; Murugaiyah, Vikneswaran; Tangiisuran, Balamurugan; Karuppannan, Mahmathi; Ramasamy, Kalavathy; Lim, Siong Meng; Tan, Kit Mun; Mahmod, Masliza; Gnanasan, Shubashini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: UKAAZ PUBLICATIONS 2023
• Subjects: Pharmacology & Pharmacy
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001161417700079

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) including agitation, psychosis, depression, and apathy are very common among persons with dementia. Aromatherapy is one of the approaches used as a non-pharmacological management of BPSD. This study examines the effectiveness of diffused ylang-ylang essential oil based on dementia-related behavioural assessment tools and biochemical analysis on persons with BPSD. A pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted over two months in three nursing homes with persons with dementia (n = 28). Ylang-ylang essential oil was diffused through an ultrasonic diffuser for 20 min twice a day during both intervention phase. Behavioural symptoms were documented, and blood was taken for biomarkers analysis. The scores of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) decreased significantly following ylang-ylang aromatherapy. A significant reduction was seen in homocysteine, amyloid beta-42, interleukin-6 and interleukin-2 concentrations with inhalation of ylang-ylang essential oil. Overall, ylang-ylang aromatherapy helps to improve BPSD and is associated with reducing neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory plasma biomarkers.