How Music Therapy is Helping Alzheimer and Dementia Patients

Music has the power of healing as Leo Tolstoy said, “Music is the shorthand of emotion.” It is no more a belief that is succumbed into but proven with facts by researchers. Music as a tool of therapy has been used for dementia patients and researches are ongoing to find out the exact way how it works on patients. A new study has shown that Music is also helping the people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s diseases. As per reports, the behavioral issues have not gone away but definitely, there has been a change in the behavioral pattern when music therapy is applied over patients.

There have been several cases. One of them was the case of a British Musician who had lost his memory and his memory returns only for 30 seconds. But the surprising fact is he is able to play the piano without any glitches. There have also been cases of patients who have shown enthusiasm when they are exposed to the music that used to play in their young age.

The experts say that the contribution of such kind of therapy might not be huge but the benefits cannot be ignored. People suffering from dementia are always in a declining state of health and experts say even a small yet valuable improvement is a great achievement.

Music is helping patient recall memories

Have you ever heard a familiar tune you used to hear in childhood and felt that you are again in those golden years? The feeling is somewhat similar. A study with dementia and Alzheimer patients has shown that they are able to recall certain memories with music. Some emotional changes have also been seen in them. It has been found out that after they sing classic hits from movies and musicals, there has been an enhanced mental performance. The study has shown that the patients undergo several behavioral changes after they come in contact with relevant music. The study was done by dividing the patients into two segments. One of the segments was only allowed to her music without any lyrics. The other segment was given to her selected songs for the same duration. After the treatment, all the patients went under the test of cognitive ability and life satisfaction. In the results, it was found out that the segment which was listening to songs had a better impact than those who were listening to music alone.

In the University of Utah, a study was published by scientists where there was a documentation of the effects of music. Here the music that was familiar to the patients were used and the cognitive functions of the dementia patients were under check. The main aim was to find out whether the music is helping the patient is dealing with disorientation and anxiety. In this study, 17 patients were taken into account and they were asked to select their favorite songs. After that, a training was given to them with the help of a caregiver to teach them the use of a portable music player. The music player had all those selected songs. They listened to those songs for the first 20 seconds, then the reverse of those same clips was played, thereafter there was silence. During this time, the scientist was studying the cerebral activity of the patient’s brain.

During the time when they were listening to this familiar music, there have been significant changes in the different areas of the brain. There was an improvement in the salience network, visual network, executive network, corticocerebellar, and cerebellar network. Dr. Norman Foster commented on this study saying, "This is the objective evidence of brain imaging which shows that meaningful music of personal choice is an alternative route for communication among patients who have Alzheimer's disease." Experts say in Alzheimer disease the language and visual memory are damaged. With this therapy, the issues that deactivate the brain with the progression of the disease is aided with music.

Music evokes emotions

Neurologist Oliver Sacks says that the power of music to evoke emotions is the pathway to bring back memories of yesteryears. The idea as per shared by him is to pair up music with the daily activities of life. The patients will gradually follow a rhythm that will bring back the memory and activities that are related to the music in their early age. This will help in improving the cognitive ability.

Music Appreciation

Other experts say that in Alzheimer patients last two abilities that remain are the ability to appreciate music and music aptitude. While other abilities are absent, these two abilities remain long after and using music can be an excellent way to help the person suffering and help in regaining lost abilities.

The possibility of physical proximity

The possibility of physical closeness is mentioned by experts. It has been found that in the later stages of dementia, the patients are unable to share the emotional connect with the caregivers. In some cases, it has been found that music is leading to dance which means touching at later stages. This can also be transformed into hugs and kisses which are a way to bring back memories or build up the emotional security with the caregiver.

Singing is better

Singing also helps as the left side of the brain is activated when a person begins to sing. Listening has its effects on the right side and gradually with visual areas getting activated, the other areas of the brain is also stimulated.

Still, studies are going on to find out to the greater impact and why this music therapy is working. Maybe not as a panacea but the impacts are definitely notable when the therapy is used along with proper medication and care. Researches are going on about the types of music that can be used and whether the wrong kind of music will have an adverse effect on these patients. Selection of songs and music is important as experts always suggest the use of meaningful music for dementia and Alzheimer patients.