From Geoff Harding, Sydney, Australia
Surely what is beneficial in maintaining a healthy brain is continual stimulation via all the senses, not just smell. Some stimulation, such as studying and practising a second language, may be more effective, but only long-term research will elucidate their relative effectiveness. That said, the benefit of developing the olfactory sense looks promising, and little more encouragement should be needed to boost it by deliberately stopping to smell the roses – and every other (preferably pleasant) odour one can(24 May, p 30).
