From Cradle to Grave, Music Nurtures the Brain’s White Matter
My cousin, who has Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, is learning to play the piano. He loves music. What’s so cool is that although he’s in a later stage of Alzheimer’s, he was recently able to memorize the five-key scale he uses to pick out Ode to Joy, from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
He doesn’t read music, so he hums the tune while picking out the piano keys. Fortunately, musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer’s disease, because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged.
We know that music has a profound effect on mood from the time we’re infants to old age. It creates an atmosphere that can be romantic, powerfully charged, restful, or nostalgic. But, now there’s evidence that it appears to do more than that.
The Mozart Project writes about the growing body of research that suggests that cognitive instruction, such as playing piano, may help to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers studied 121 men and women, aged 60 to 73, who had never played the piano. While brain scans showed little or no loss of the density of white matter, which plays a critical role in cognition and memory but naturally ages with people, those who did not receive cognitive instruction had a significant decrease in the density of their white matter, increasing their chances of developing dementia or memory problems.
Although there is no direct evidence that playing piano reduces the risk of dementia, it involves using a number of different cognitive skills, such as memory, motor skills, and planning. These skills are known to be important for brain health, and so it is possible that playing the piano could help to reduce the risk of dementia.
While learning to play the piano may help protect and keep the brain healthy, music in general provides other benefits. In a recent Mayo Clinic article, Can music help someone with Alzheimer’s? research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
For example, music can:
• Relieve stress
• Reduce anxiety and depression
• Reduce agitation
Music can also benefit caregivers by reducing anxiety and distress, lightening the mood, and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease — especially if they have difficulty communicating.
Those interested in using music to help a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease should consider these tips:
• Think about your loved one’s preferences. What kind of music does your he or she enjoy? What music evokes memories of happy times in his or her life? Involve family and friends by asking them to suggest songs or make playlists.
• Set the mood. To calm your loved one during mealtime or a morning hygiene routine, play music or sing a song that’s soothing. When you’d like to boost your loved one’s mood, use more upbeat or faster-paced music.
• Avoid overstimulation. When playing music, eliminate competing noises. Turn off the TV. Shut the door. Set the volume based on your loved one’s hearing ability. Opt for music that isn’t interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion.
• Encourage movement. Help your loved one to clap along or tap his or her feet to the beat. If possible, consider dancing with your loved one.
• Sing along. Singing along to music together with your loved one can boost the mood and enhance your relationship. Some early studies also suggest musical memory functions differently than other types of memory, and singing can help stimulate unique memories.
Pay attention to your loved one’s response. If your loved one seems to enjoy particular songs, play them often. If your loved one reacts negatively to a particular song or type of music, choose something else.
Keep in mind that music might not affect your loved one’s cognitive status or quality of life, but it could certainly enhance the pleasure of the cared-for caregiver. Remember, further research is needed to better understand the precise effects of music on Alzheimer’s.
We want to hear from you, so feel free to share tips, ideas, and resources for seniors with Grannybooster. Email me, Maris Somerville, at info@grannybooster.com
