Music Brings Hope to Alzheimer’s Patients

Our lifetimes are marked by music. Important cultural events—birthdays, weddings, funerals—all come with their own songs and traditions. We have songs, artists, and music genres that represent life stages, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. Music is woven into our histories and therefore, a way for us to access and enjoy old memories. This is especially important for people with Alzheimer’s, as music can provide them with access to memories they have otherwise lost. The power of music for people with Alzheimer’s has become increasingly visible with films like Alive Inside and viral social media videos of family members singing to their loved ones.

Music is a creative option to not only access memories, but also combat the negative health effects of increased isolation, depression, loss of control, and agitation. This article will overview some of the research on why music works for those with Alzheimer’s. We’ve also put together a downloadable resource so that you can use music more effectively with your loved ones.

Music and Memory

Have you ever wondered why someone with dementia can't remember where they were born, but can remember the words to their favorite song? Evidence supports that memories associated with music are stored uniquely in our minds. Think of the brain as a network of highways going from city to city. Most memories travel solely on Route 66, with one starting point and one ending point. For people with dementia, these memories become lost as the disease progresses and attacks those neural networks or ‘highways.’ Musical memories, however, are made up of multiple highways that interconnect like a large spiders’ web. For this reason, listening to and performing music can provide a path to memories that are otherwise lost. 

There is hope then that even when other means of communication fail, music can awaken those deeply preserved memories and spark connection. 

Music and Gamma Waves

Did you know that the brain has a symphony of rhythms? Neurons in the brain communicate with each other to create brain waves, or electric impulses with recurring frequencies (i.e. rhythms). Listening to music activates these neurons to generate brain waves that improve attention, stimulate memories and emotions, promote restful sleep, and synchronize with others. Gamma waves, one type of brain wave, are present in healthy brains and indicate an ability to deeply focus on a problem or project. They are plentiful inside a healthy brain, but decrease in the brains of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s, leading to issues with attention and task execution. 

Researchers at the National Institute of Aging have published exciting results on how sound can stimulate gamma waves in mice. After one week of gamma wave stimulation with sound, mice with Alzheimer’s demonstrated improved memory, improved task performance, and reduced levels of Alzheimer’s related proteins. Further research is needed to determine potential long-term effects, if the benefits will translate to humans, and whether music will have additive benefits. However, this study exemplifies how sound, and thus music may have important physiological effects on the brains of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s.

Music and Agitation

While memory loss is the most well-known symptom, there are many discomforts that plague those with dementia, including agitation. Agitation can manifest in a variety of ways, including restlessness, pacing, anxiety, and aggression. Extensive research proves how music can mitigate these symptoms and lead to greater engagement, interaction, and calm for people with dementia. Consider how music influences your own mood when you’re upset. The power of music to reduce agitation comes from both its ability to express emotions and from its physiological impact on our brain, heart, and breath.

Hope for Alzheimer’s Treatment

Research will continue to develop surrounding how music affects people with Alzheimer’s. Due to its accessibility in the brain, music can be powerful for those with dementia, becoming one of few sources of familiarity, comfort, and joy. Music can stimulate memories otherwise lost and help us find new, nonverbal ways of connecting.

Download our free resource to learn how to better connect with someone with Alzheimer’s through music.