September sees the start of World Alzheimer’s Awareness month with World Alzheimer’s Day taking place on 21 st September. Music can be a powerful way to trigger positive feelings and connect with other people.
For people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia and traumatic brain injuries, even those who have lost their ability to communicate, the ability to respond to and engage with music remains intact.
Music can be a beneficial form of therapy for people with dementia, using activities such as singing, listening to music, playing musical instruments and improvising.
Research shows the positive impact music has on metal abilities, also reducing heart rate and blood pressure, relieving muscle tension and helping with pain management. It can also trigger feel-good hormones called endorphins, which ease anxiety and depression.
Playing a musical instrument can improve processes that may be impaired by dementia such as attention, concentration, memory and
communication skills.
The Alzheimer’s Society recommends building a personal playlist and has resources and ideas online to help the patient connect with friends and relatives through music.
Musical memories can be triggered, stimulating someone who has previously been unresponsive. Music can also help a person with dementia to connect with the past by evoking memories, feelings, and emotions that they might otherwise find hard to express. They may find it easier to recall memories when they hear pieces of music that are significant to them – perhaps their favourite song from the past, or a lullaby they used to sing to their children.
Alzheimer’s Research, Dementia UK and the Alzheimer’s Society have lots of activities ideas for how people with dementia can continue to enjoy music at home or in their communities.
Here are just a few
If you would like to find out more about Alzheimers or need support please contact https://www.dementiauk.org/
or https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
“Music and Me” An informative downloadable leaflet https://www.dementiauk.org/wp-
content/uploads/2023/02/DUK10_Music-and-Dementia_8pp_digital_FINAL-WEB.pdf
