For a long time, music has been used as a method of soothing when a person is in distress. It is a way of connecting with inner emotions that people often do not realize are there. It can provide feelings of joy, nostalgia, and even sadness all at the same time. Music is really one of the most amazing psychological tools that we can use to easily regulate our emotions throughout our entire lives. Listening to music causes the brain to release alpha brain waves, which naturally regulate the nervous system due to its correlation with dream states and relaxation. Many people use music as a way to decompress after a stressful day because of its ability to lower the cortisol levels in the brain, which is the main cause of stress.
When a child is crying or scared, you can sing to them, and it makes them feel comforted and safe. This works the same way with Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients. When patients act out and cause stress, it is almost always due to fear or anxiety stemming from their unfamiliar surroundings. They do not know their surroundings very well and everything seems different to them. Nevertheless, listening to music they were familiar with pre-diagnosis can provide them with a sense of safety and comfort when they are in distress. Musical therapy can sometimes trigger memories of joyful times music brings to people.
Musical memory is proven to stay active for most Alzheimer’s patients, though many can forget nearly everything. This happens because music has a strange and unique ability to get the regions of the brain affected by dementia active again. Multiple studies have been done on this topic over the years, researcher Teppo Särkämö conducted a study in 2013. His hypothesis was that daily exposure to music would improve patients’ overall well-being, and after performing his research, his hypothesis was correct. The evidence suggested that regularly exposing dementia patients to music therapy has been proven to enhance short-term memory and improve cognitive functions. Many subjects in this study were shown to have an overall better mood, and some even gained recollection of episodic memories afterward. For this exact reason, many care facilities provide music therapy and music-related activities as a treatment for their patients.
In many Alzheimer’s and Dementia care facilities, music is used as a way the patients can self-regulate. The “Memory Core” program at NYC Health + Hospitals. Is a great representation of that. This program gives its patients the chance to listen to any music they please on their own personalized iPods, they have weekly musical performances, and daily dance and movement activities to get their patients up and active. These activities are wonderful ways to stimulate the brain and get things functioning properly. Musical perception is always processed with the entirety of the brain, therefore, listening to music activates areas of the brain that have been severely affected by dementia.
Patients with dementia often have different reactions to varying musical notes and chords. This is because of the many different types of dementia that can affect the brain in distinct ways. An example of this is semantic dementia, which primarily affects the brain’s ability to comprehend speech, which is a very important factor when trying to communicate with somebody. Many patients struggle with extreme confusion and often fail to understand what is happening around them, this can cause a lot of fear and anxiety in their minds because they feel completely disconnected from the world. Playing familiar tunes is a sure way to bring dementia patients comfort in their surroundings.
Dementia patients who are often exposed to music therapy tend to show greater improvement compared to patients who are not. When a dementia patient does not get the proper treatments and care they need, things can rapidly decline and their condition can worsen causing even more confusion for them. It is important to be very understanding and know exactly what you’re doing when taking care of a dementia patient because even the smallest things can trigger emotional outbursts. Maintaining a positive attitude and using a reassuring tone is the best way to ensure that they are being well taken care of.
Overall, music therapy is proven to be a highly effective tool for dementia patients by helping them understand the emotions they are feeling and work through those emotions. It often can spark memories for them that they were unable to remember without music, connecting them to their loved ones and cherished memories.
