Music Therapy & Alzheimer’s
Happy Summer!
June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of brain health and the profound impact of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It's the most common cause of dementia, impacting millions of people worldwide. While there is currently no cure, various therapies and interventions can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's (alz.org). At Perfect Harmony Health, we witness through our memory care groups how music therapy can transform the lives of those affected by Alzheimer's. Music therapy uses researched-based interventions that have a unique ability to engage the brain. Through the therapeutic use of music, we can evoke memories, improve mood, and enhance cognitive functions.
Evoke Memories: Music has a unique ability to trigger memory recall. Familiar tunes from important moments in life can trigger recollections and provide a sense of familiarity for those with Alzheimer's.Through interventions that use mnemonic songs we can assist our patients in recalling important information such as names of family members or lists of what they need when they leave the house. A study published in November of 2023 found that music therapy improved delayed recall in those with varying types of dementia (Moreira et al. 2023).
Improve Mood: Listening to or creating music can boost mood, reduce anxiety, and alleviate depression. The emotional connection to music can give patient’s a sense of self-actualization. A study completed in Taiwan in 2023 showed that music listening alone assisted in decreasing agitation in patients with dementia (Yao et al. 2023).
Enhance Cognitive Functions: Engaging with music can enhance cognitive functions such as attention, language skills, and executive functioning. A recently published research review revealed that across 6 high quality studies, there was a significant increase in cognitive functions after engaging in a music therapy program (Bleibel et al. 2023).
This Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, let's celebrate the incredible power of music to heal and connect. We are dedicated to using music therapy to enhance the quality of life for those with Alzheimer's, showing that even in the face of this challenging disease, there is hope and harmony to be found.
References:
Bleibel, Malak, et al. "The Effect of Music Therapy on Cognitive Functions in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials." Alzheimer’S Research & Therapy, vol. 15, no. 65, 2023, pp. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-023-01214-9. Accessed 30 May 2024.
Moreira, Shirlene V., et al. "Music Therapy Enahnces Episodic Memory in Alzheimer’S and Mixed Dementia: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial." Healthcare, vol. 11, no. 22, 2023, p. 2912, https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11222912. Accessed 30 May 2024.
Yao, Ching-Teng, et al. "Evaluation of the Music Therapy Program Interventions on Agitated Behavior for People with Dementia in Taiwan Institutional Care." Educational Gerontology, vol. 49, no. 3, 2023, pp. 228-239, https://doi.org/10.1080/30601277.2922.2099076. Accessed 30 May 2024.
"What Is Alzheimer’S Disease?" Www.Alz.Org, www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers. Accessed 30 May 2024.
