Effects of Diffused Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil Amongst Older Persons With Dementia

Universiti Teknologi Mara

Status: Completed

Conditions: Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia; Dementia

Treatments: Other: Aromatherapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05034107

FRGS/1/2017/SKK02/UITM/02/1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Ylang-Ylang (Cananga Odorata) essential oil has been postulated to have calming effect, which may improve BPSD in persons with dementia. This study aims to examine dementia-related behavioural changes using established assessment tools and brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in persons with BPSD.

Full description

Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) refers to the spectrum of non-cognitive and non-neurological symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, psychosis, depression and apathy. Ylang-Ylang (Cananga Odorata) essential oil is postulated to have calming effect, which may improve BPSD in persons with dementia. Thus, this study aims to examine dementia-related behavioural changes using established assessment tools and brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in persons with BPSD. A pre-post quasi-experimental pilot study will be conducted over a two-month period in nursing homes with persons with dementia. Approximately 30 persons with dementia are expected to participate in this study. During the pre-intervention phase, water will be diffused using a diffuser in a common area of the nursing homes. During the intervention phase, Ylang-Ylang essential oil will be diffused using the identical diffuser over the same common area. Both water and essential oil will be diffused twice a day, each for a duration of 20 min during the respective phases. Observation and documentation of behavioural symptoms will be taken using validated instruments during the pre- and post-intervention phases. In addition, 10 mL of blood will also be collected at pre and post intervention for biochemical analyses.If Ylang-ylang essential oil were found to be beneficial based on the laboratory and observational findings, it can be possibly used as an alternative approach in managing BPSD.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Persons who have been diagnosed with dementia by their physicians and in nursing homes in Selangor, Malaysia.
• Persons with dementia who have at least one symptom of BPSD

Exclusion criteria

• Persons with dementia with a comorbid respiratory problem like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Persons with dementia who are allergic to fragrance/perfumes
• Persons with dementia who had a change in their psychotropic or dementia medications in the 30 days before commencement of the study, namely: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antagonist (memantine), antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, or medications with anticholinergic properties
• Persons who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or mental retardation
• Persons who have no documented behavioral history in the previous three month
• Persons who are currently hospitalized
• Persons with dementia who are unwilling to participate or disallowed by caregivers/family members

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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28 participants in 1 patient group

Persons with dementia

Experimental group

Description:

Persons who have been diagnosed with dementia by their physicians and in nursing homes. Persons with dementia who have at least one symptom of BPSD and willing to participate in this study. These participants will be exposed to diffused Ylang-Ylang aromatherapy.

Treatment:

Other: Aromatherapy