Scientists in the UK have shown how food can enable ‘time travel’ in research that suggests a role for the food industry in helping those with dementia re-construct memories.
The researchers exposed older people to food flavours from their youth who were able to ‘travel’ back to the past with an enhanced memory of the event. They worked with the participants to create bespoke flavour-based cues for each one. This ranged from barbecued mackerel at a golden wedding to eating strawberries in hospital after giving birth.
The 3D flavour-based cues are small, gel-like, edible balls, modelling the original food, which are easier to swallow with more intense flavours and without requiring the ingredients and preparation.
“Our outcomes indicated that personalised 3D printed flavour-based cures have rich sensorial and emotional qualities supporting strong recollective retrieval, especially when they distinctively match the food in the original experience and prompt emotionally positive self-defining memories,” explained Professor Corina Sas of Lancaster University.
All the participants were able to provide rich sensory accounts when prompted by flavour-based cues, with most of the details not being present in the earlier free recall.
The research has particular relevance for dementia patients.
“Working alongside people to create flavour-based cues highlighted how powerful but under used this connection is,” noted Dr Tim Gayler, formerly of Lancaster University.
“Our design approach helped bridge this gap and showed the potential for future applications to create rich, multi-sensory memory aides.”
