If you’ve ever found yourself listening to sad love songs after a break-up or upbeat rhythms doing your workout, you’ve already experienced the power of music. Music therapy harnesses our love for music to help those living with dementia, a condition that affects a person’s cognitive abilities, manage some of the symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Music Therapy and Dementia

Musical memory recalls music-related experiences like listening to your favourite song, watching your favourite band perform, or playing a musical instrument. We’re not quite sure how music therapy is helping, but studies suggest that since music uses different pathways and processes in the brain to store memories, some memories and emotions associated with music are still accessible after other forms of memory and cognitive function decline and even disappear. Music therapy can’t reverse or restore lost cognitive function; however, by triggering emotions, it can improve a person’s memory and mood.

Music affects everyone differently, and an activity that might help one person may not affect another, so it’s important to find an activity that works for each individual. Some forms of music therapy include:

• Dancing, exercising or relaxing while listening to music
• Writing songs or discussing the lyrics of old favourites
• Singing along
• Playing musical instruments

Some people who played musical instruments before dementia set in can often still play long after other memories have faded. Some instruments, like drumming, can also allow someone to get rid of their anger and frustration in a way that’s not destructive.

Benefits of Music Therapy

We all enjoy a good tune, but the benefits of music therapy reach far beyond simply having a good time:

Connection – Having a good time listening to favourite tunes can foster connection with loved ones, especially once verbal communication becomes difficult, and can reduce feelings of loneliness.

Memory – Music often elicits emotional responses and triggers memories from when the person was younger; sometimes, they can even learn new songs, further boosting their confidence.

Mood – Gentle music can reduce agitation and make daily activities of living, like breakfast or bath time, less stressful. More upbeat tunes can lift the spirits and combat feelings of depression.

Communication – Singing along to a favourite song can help people recall certain words and trigger memories of happier times. Sharing these stories can maintain, or even improve, language skills. Music also allows people to express themselves non-verbally combatting feelings of frustration and isolation.

Reduced caregiver stress – Music therapy also improves the quality of life for both the person living with dementia and their caregivers as symptoms become easier to manage, often significantly lowering stress levels.

Music Therapy at Home

Music therapy can be provided in a care setting or at home. Since music will trigger buried memories, it’s important to choose wisely, so keep the following in mind:

• Use music that’s familiar and comforting, and avoid music associated with a traumatic event or a difficult time.
• Loud music can increase stress and agitation, so keep it down.
• Commercial interruptions or other background noises, like televisions or radios, can lead to confusion, so eliminate these distractions if possible.
• Consider the person’s state of mind; use quiet music to calm down an anxious person and more upbeat music to increase awareness and boost the person’s mood.

Conclusion

Music is an important part of our lives; the right song at the right time can lift our spirits, calm us down, or make us sad for a time we can’t quite recall. For those living in a world that doesn’t always make sense, music and song can provide a moment of stability and joy.