Mostpeoplethinkofsmellastheleastimportantoftheirfivesenses.Butagrowingbodyofresearchsuggestssmellisnotjustessentialforperceivingthingslikefoodandflowersbutalsoforrememberingthem.Andanewstudysuggestsstimulatingthesenseofsmellcanboostmemory.Olderadultsexposedtoodorswhiletheysleptperformedbetteronverbalmemorytestsandshowedimprovedfunctioninabrainpathwaythatsupportsmemoryformation,accordingtothestudy,publishedinthejournalFrontiersinNeuroscience.“Iwouldconsideritpreliminary,butIthinkit’sprettyexcit-ing,”saidDonaldWilson,aneuroscientistatNYULangoneHealth,whowasnotinvolvedintheresearch.GETTYIMAGESKarenWeintraubUSATODAYSeeMEMORY,Page2ACommonscentsmaybuildabett...