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A new study suggests familiar scents could help unlock memories for those living with depression.

Study on Scent and Depression

Prior studies found that people with depression are less capable of drawing on specific memories from their lives, researchers said.

In the study, people with depression recalled more specific memories when they were exposed to familiar scents, than when they heard the words that corresponded to those scents.

The study included 32 adults with clinical depression. Participants were asked to sniff 24 odor samples from glass jars, which could be pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant. Participants were then asked to share a specific memory from their life in response to those cues. The researchers conducted the same exercise using 24 words that described each smell.

Around 68 percent of the participants could recall specific memories in response to the odors, whereas only 52 percent could recall specific memories after hearing the words out loud. Memories triggered by smells were also more vivid than memories triggered by words.

Aromatherapy might be able to help people recover from depression by helping them recall specific, often positive memories, the study showed. This could help individuals shake negative thought cycles and reline their thinking patterns, the researchers said.

The study was published in “JAMA Network Open.”

Signs of Depression

In general, about one out of every six adults will have depression at some time in their life.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Eating more or less than usual or having no appetite
• Experiencing aches, pains, headaches, or stomach problems that do not improve with treatment 
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Feeling irritable, easily frustrated, or restless
• Feeling sad or anxious often or all of the time
• Feeling tired, even after sleeping well
• Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Not wanting to do activities that used to be fun
• Waking up too early or sleeping too much

Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year.

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