For this reason, music therapy for people with dementia uses songs from an individual’s younger days. Hearing music with a strong emotional connection seems to act as a key to unlock the archived memories, and bring at least some of them back. These emotional memories are stored in the same areas of the brain that are responsible for ‘remembering’ basic motor tasks, which we do almost unconsciously, such as brushing our teeth, driving or riding a bike. We tend to make strong emotional connections between certain pieces of music and experiences we’ve had, particularly between the ages of ten and 30, adds Prof Crutch.Īnd this is why, when prompted by a certain song, people with dementia will recall vivid details about, say, going to a concert in their youth – and that may involve not just the song itself, but who they were with, what they wore and what else happened around that time. The information remains even when damage makes accessing it harder. The process is akin to archiving documents on your computer, according to Jorg Fachner, professor of music, health and the brain at Anglia Ruskin University. The Alzheimer’s Society already runs Singing For The Brain sessions while ‘dementia choirs’ have been formed, including one in Nottingham which became the subject of a BBC documentary with Line Of Duty actress Vicky McClure. These services are ‘not a nicety, they’re a necessity’, insists Grace Meadows, programme director for Music For Dementia, a group which campaigns for music to be part of dementia care because it is so effective at alleviating its debilitating symptoms. This is the moment a former ballerina with Alzheimers listens to the music from Swan Lake which she performed to decades ago: Marta C Gonzalez transformed in front of peoples eyes as she. It led to Health Secretary Matt Hancock last year pledging that more people living with dementia would get access to music and dance sessions. Research by the charity Playlist For Life even found that dementia sufferers exposed to their favourite music were able to reduce by 60 per cent their reliance on antipsychotic medication, which controls symptoms but has serious side effects. And a growing body of scientific research suggests it can relieve common dementia symptoms such as wandering, agitation, aggression, mood swings and anxiety, while also improving speech and language. When the video began making the rounds on Twitter, many people shared how moved they were from watching.There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that it can bring pleasure when little else seems to. Alzheimer’s is currently the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. It typically begins with dementia symptoms that gradually worsen over a number of years. Music and music therapy are invaluable for individuals with dementia.”Īlzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. Musical memories can be procedural too, since music and dancing tend to go hand-in-hand, as does music and the motor skills necessary for playing an instrument. “These types of memories often remain intact in individuals with dementia. student and instructor in the Adult Development and Aging program at the University of Akron, tells Scary Mommy. “Her dancing is an example of procedural memory, which are your memories for motor skills,” Katelyn Frey, Ph.D. Dopo molti anni, improvvisamente, ascoltando uno spezzone dal Lag. As the music began to play, González instantly recognized the melody and began to move her arms in sync with the original choreography - a true ballerina, through and through. L’ Alzheimer ha cancellato i suoi ricordi e l'ha costretta immobile su una sedia a rotelle.
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