MCINCT07688382
The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
A study testing aromatherapy in people with MCI, run by China Medical University, China.
Trial summary
1. To analyze the therapeutic effects of lavender aromatherapy on memory function and overall cognitive function in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); 2. To analyze whether lavender aromatherapy improves executive function, language ability, attention, visuospatial ability, anxiety, depression, quality… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 to 95 years
- Conditions the study is for
- MCI
- What is being tested?
- aromatherapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to 2 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 60 to 95 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- The MCI mentioned in this study meets the diagnostic criteria proposed by the *Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease-Derived Mild Cognitive Impairment (2021)*: cognitive impairment reported by the patient or an informant, or identified by an experienced clinician; objective evidence of impairment in one or more cognitive domains, with episodic memory impairment being the most common; complex instrumental activities of daily living may be mildly impaired, but the ability to perform basic activities of daily living remains independent; the diagnostic criteria for dementia are not met.
- MoCA-Beijing version scores were adjusted for education level: ≤13 for junior high school education or below, ≤19 for high school education, and ≤24 for university education or above; MMSE score >24; ADL score <23.
- Age between 60 and 79 years.
- Normal olfactory function assessed using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test.
- Ability to communicate normally and complete cognitive assessments.
- Residing in a senior care facility with no plans to leave within the next 12 weeks.
Who cannot join
- Presence of other conditions known to affect cognitive function, such as psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, depression).
- History of asthma or any allergic conditions.
- Use of any prescription medications that may impact cognitive function (including psychotropic drugs and others)
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
- To analyze the therapeutic effects of lavender aromatherapy on memory function and overall cognitive function in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI);
- To analyze whether lavender aromatherapy improves executive function, language ability, attention, visuospatial ability, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep in older adults with MCI.
Read the detailed description
The intervention protocol was established as follows: Based on the elderly participant's usual bedtime, the time of going to bed was recorded. The participant was instructed to assume a comfortable sleeping position, use the graduated dropper provided with the essential oil bottle to measure 0.15 ml (approximately 3 drops; theoretically, 0.05 ml per drop) of diluted lavender essential oil, and drip it vertically onto the upper center of a cotton pad. The cotton pad was then pinned to the collar with a safety pin, and the participant was instructed to inhale the scent evenly for 30 minutes. Afterward, the intervention staff or caregiver will remove the cotton pad. The intervention will be conducted 5 days a week for 12 weeks.
- Conditions
- MCI
- Being tested
- aromatherapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
aromatherapyOther
Participants in the intervention group will receive aromatherapy inhalation for 30 minutes per session, five times a week, over a period of 12 week
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Aromatherapy experimental group | Other | Aromatherapy experimental group : Aromatherapy The aromatherapy intervention protocol is as follows: Based on the elderly participant's usual bedtime, record the time they go to bed; instruct them to assume a comfortable sleeping position; using the graduated dropper provided with the essential oil bottle, dispense 0.15 ml (approximately 3 drops; theoretically, 0.05 ml per drop) of diluted lavender essential oil and drip it vertically onto the upper center of a cotton pad; pin the cotton pad to the collar with a safety pin; and have the participant inhale the scent evenly for 30 minutes. Afterward, the intervention staff or caregiver will remove the cotton pad. The intervention will be conducted 5 days a week for 12 weeks. Receives: Other: aromatherapy |
| Control group | No intervention | no-treatment control group receiving routine health education only |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Gobal cognitive function
Use the Mini-Mental State Examination to assess overall cognitive function.
Measured: Week 12
Memory
Use the Auditory Verbal Learning Test to assess memory function.
Measured: Week 12
Secondary outcomes (8)
Language function
Use the Boston Naming Test to assess Language function
Measured: Week 12
Executive function
Use the TMT-B to assess Executive function
Measured: Week 12
Visual space
Use the Draw-a-Clock Test to assess Visual space
Measured: Week 12
Attention
Use the TMT-A to assess Attention
Measured: Week 12
Anxiety
Use the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale to assess Anxiety
Measured: Week 12
Depression
Use the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale to assess Depression
Measured: Week 12
Sleep Quality
Use the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess Depression
Measured: Week 12
Quality of Life assess
Use the ShortForm 8 Health Survey Questionnaire to assess Depression
Measured: Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion2 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MCIStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- China Medical University, China
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Yuxin Zhang, China Medical University, China
- Investigators
- Yuxin Zhang, Graduate, Principal investigator, China Medical University, China
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07688382
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Lun Shen [2025] No. 237
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 7 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07688382
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Lun Shen [2025] No. 237
- Conditions
- MCI
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- China Medical University, ChinaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 2 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 7 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
- To analyze the therapeutic effects of lavender aromatherapy on memory function and overall cognitive function in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI);
- To analyze whether lavender aromatherapy improves executive function, language ability, attention, visuospatial ability, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep in older adults with MCI.
Detailed description
The intervention protocol was established as follows: Based on the elderly participant's usual bedtime, the time of going to bed was recorded. The participant was instructed to assume a comfortable sleeping position, use the graduated dropper provided with the essential oil bottle to measure 0.15 ml (approximately 3 drops; theoretically, 0.05 ml per drop) of diluted lavender essential oil, and drip it vertically onto the upper center of a cotton pad. The cotton pad was then pinned to the collar with a safety pin, and the participant was instructed to inhale the scent evenly for 30 minutes. Afterward, the intervention staff or caregiver will remove the cotton pad. The intervention will be conducted 5 days a week for 12 weeks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Aromatherapy experimental group | Other | Other: aromatherapyAromatherapy experimental group : Aromatherapy The aromatherapy intervention protocol is as follows: Based on the elderly participant's usual bedtime, record the time they go to bed; instruct them to assume a comfortable sleeping position; using the graduated dropper provided with the essential oil bottle, dispense 0.15 ml (approximately 3 drops; theoretically, 0.05 ml per drop) of diluted lavender essential oil and drip it vertically onto the upper center of a cotton pad; pin the cotton pad to the collar with a safety pin; and have the participant inhale the scent evenly for 30 minutes. Afterward, the intervention staff or caregiver will remove the cotton pad. The intervention will be conducted 5 days a week for 12 weeks. |
| Control group | No intervention | –no-treatment control group receiving routine health education only |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 to 95 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- The MCI mentioned in this study meets the diagnostic criteria proposed by the *Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease-Derived Mild Cognitive Impairment (2021)*: cognitive impairment reported by the patient or an informant, or identified by an experienced clinician; objective evidence of impairment in one or more cognitive domains, with episodic memory impairment being the most common; complex instrumental activities of daily living may be mildly impaired, but the ability to perform basic activities of daily living remains independent; the diagnostic criteria for dementia are not met.
- MoCA-Beijing version scores were adjusted for education level: ≤13 for junior high school education or below, ≤19 for high school education, and ≤24 for university education or above; MMSE score >24; ADL score <23.
- Age between 60 and 79 years.
- Normal olfactory function assessed using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test.
- Ability to communicate normally and complete cognitive assessments.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Presence of other conditions known to affect cognitive function, such as psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, depression).
- History of asthma or any allergic conditions.
- Use of any prescription medications that may impact cognitive function (including psychotropic drugs and others)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| aromatherapyParticipants in the intervention group will receive aromatherapy inhalation for 30 minutes per session, five times a week, over a period of 12 week | Other | Aromatherapy experimental group |
Primary outcome
Gobal cognitive function
Time frame: Week 12
Use the Mini-Mental State Examination to assess overall cognitive function.
Memory
Time frame: Week 12
Use the Auditory Verbal Learning Test to assess memory function.
8 secondary outcomes
Language function
Time frame: Week 12
Executive function
Time frame: Week 12
Visual space
Time frame: Week 12
Attention
Time frame: Week 12
Anxiety
Time frame: Week 12
Depression
Time frame: Week 12
Sleep Quality
Time frame: Week 12
Quality of Life assess
Time frame: Week 12
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Yuxin Zhang, Graduate principal investigator
China Medical University, China
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing aromatherapy in people with MCI, run by China Medical University, China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Yuxin Zhang, Graduate (18867845231, 18867845231@163.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Gobal cognitive function (time frame: Week 12). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Jul 2026.