For people with memory issues caused by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, music can be more than just entertaining. In some cases, songs can help people to retrieve memories. And songs associated with happy times or good memories could help to improve the person’s mood, too.
While music comes with plenty of benefits, it can’t stop the progression of the disease or change the brain at a cellular level.
However, it could help the person you love to feel and function a little better every day. Here’s what you need to know about how music can help and how you can take advantage of its benefits on your brain and body.
How Does the Brain Process Music?
Using music to help Alzheimer's patients starts with understanding how the brain processes sound, especially music. The auditory parts of the brain are hierarchically organized, meaning that areas lower in the hierarchy pass information higher up, although this process is rarely just one way.
Sound waves enter the ears, vibrating the eardrum, and then move to the small bones and hairs in the cochlea. The middle and inner ear transmit those vibrations through the auditory nerve as electrical signals. The electrical impulses of sounds go to the primary auditory cortex, where the signals are coded and then passed to the cerebral cortex.
As music is processed through the brain, it interacts with areas associated with emotion, memory, and even body movement.
Different parts of the brain seem to process different aspects of music.
- Pitch involves the anterior and posterior superior temporal lobes.
- Tempo or time information impacts some parts of the hippocampus.
- Timbre can trigger activity in the temporal lobes, especially when music is perceived as flat or mechanical.
- Meaning, which is attributed to even instrumental compositions, is processed by the brain.
- Emotion is applied when music triggers a combination of brain regions like the amygdala, hippocampus, and their cortical and subcortical connections.
Well-chosen music can activate areas of the brain that may be impacted by Alzheimer's, which can then relieve symptoms and slow the progress of the disease overall.
Why Does Music Help People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
In 2023, researchers wrote a detailed article summarizing the impact of music therapy on people with Alzheimer’s disease.
In that article, they wrote the following: “The specific mechanisms by which music therapy is beneficial are not fully understood.” They suggested, however, that parts of the memory that address music are well preserved in people with Alzheimer’s. That means people could be reached through music when all other forms of memory become inaccessible.
In an article published in 2022, researchers suggested that many significant life moments are accompanied by music, and those memories are stored with the songs played. People with Alzheimer’s disease may be able to access those memories only when the songs are played again.
While researchers may not know exactly why music helps people with Alzheimer’s disease, the impact seems very clear. In one study cited by the Alzheimer’s Association, 45 people with dementia had one hour of music therapy three times per week for 10 months.
The participants improved their cognitive function test scores by an average of 50%, and one person recognized his wife for the first time in months. Studies like this demonstrate how much music can help with Alzheimer’s disease.
How Can We Use Music for Dementia Patients?
Based on medical studies, here are some suggestions for how medical professionals, caregivers, and loved ones can help dementia patients by using music:
Family members
Since music can be a way for Alzheimer's patients to bond with their caregivers, spending time with a loved one who has this disease and listening to their favorite songs can be a great way to build emotional support and care. The person may share their memories with you, and recounting their lives can be a great way for them to build mental resilience. They may also re-associate these memories with the song, strengthening recall through neural pathways. During this time together, the person will also begin to associate their favorite music and good memories with you, whether you're a friend, family member, or professional caregiver. This can help to build a trusting relationship, which will remain in place as the early stages of dementia progress.
Medical settings
When Alzheimer's symptoms progress and a person requires more professional help, they may move into a nursing home. This environment provides medical support 24/7 to people who may wander, have associated medical conditions, and experience periods of agitation or restlessness. This environment will be unfamiliar, and a person with Alzheimer's cannot process new information very well or form new memories easily.
A survey of nursing homes found that playing soothing music during mealtimes, which can be loud and chaotic otherwise, helped to ease distress related to the environment. Overall, music improved stress responses.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Music Therapy
The Alzheimer’s Association recommends hiring a professional music therapist to design an evidence-based program for your loved one. Music therapy, when delivered by a professional, might be more effective than anything you can design at home. However, there are things you can do to add music to your loved one’s life.
Follow these steps to create and administer an at-home music program:
- Find songs that create happy feelings. Talk to your loved one about the music they heard during happy times. You could focus on a band, a genre, or a decade.
- Play songs peacefully. Avoid commercials and other interruptions by creating custom playlists.
- March the song to the mood. Play peaceful songs when it’s time for bed or peppy tunes in the morning hours.
- Encourage movement. Clapping, dancing, or playing instruments to favorite tunes can be incredibly enjoyable to the person.
- Don’t force it. Play songs as long as the person seems interested, and quit when they are ready. Some sessions may last for just a few minutes, and others may last longer.
You may need to experiment to find the right songs, volumes, and settings for music. Be gentle with yourself.
Tips for Choosing the Right Music for a Loved One With Dementia
Playing soothing music and using background music during activities or visiting hours can boost the overall quality of life for patients with Alzheimer's as their condition progresses. Follow these tips to pick the perfect soundtrack:
Ask for Advice
Music is personal, and everyone has songs they love or hate. Some people with Alzheimer's disease can tell their caretakers about their musical preferences. With their help, you could find the right songs to play.
But even people who can't speak can still communicate. Watch for toe tapping, finger popping, or head nodding as signs of approval. A frown, grimace, or attempt to leave the room could all indicate you've chosen the wrong song.
Think About the Time Frame
Most people appreciate songs that are familiar, including people with an impaired memory. Look for playlists containing music that was popular when your loved one was a young adult. These songs could help the person remember good times and happy places.
Avoid Commercials
The Alzheimer's Association points out that commercial interruptions can be confusing to someone with memory loss. Using a radio could mean subjecting the person to many interruptions, making the musical experience much less enjoyable.
Create an Environment for Focus
Shut windows and doors, turn off the television, and don't talk while the songs play. Many people with Alzheimer's disease struggle in environments that are too stimulating. By eliminating outside noises, you give the person the chance to really listen.
Remember the Culture
Different cultures have different musical expressions. Lyrics, instrumentation, and chord progressions can all vary from one cultural tradition to another. Don’t assume that someone from one background (such as someone from India) will appreciate music from another culture (such as South Africa). Remember that the goal is to choose music that seems familiar to the person.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions we often hear about using music to help with memory loss.
Why should I work with a music therapist?
Music therapy programs delivered by a professional often involve more than just turning on the radio. Professionals can design programs that involve writing songs, playing music, discussing lyrics, and more. They can also track progress and change their approach as needed.
Where can I find a music therapist?
Use the American Music Therapy Association’s online directory to find a professional, or ask your doctor for a referral or recommendation.
How can I tell if I’m playing the right music?
If you’re incorporating music into daily life at home, watch your loved one’s reactions. Singing, dancing, smiling, and toe-tapping could all be signs of happiness. If your loved one walks away, frowns, or covers their ears, the songs may not be quite right.
Should I use headphones?
It depends. Some people with memory loss appreciate the opportunity for focused listening, while others find the sensation overwhelming. Let your loved one guide your approach.
References
- How Does the Brain Process Music? (2008). Journal of Clinical Medicine.
- Effects of Music and Music Therapy on Mood in Neurological Patients. (March 2015). World Journal of Psychiatry.
- Effects of Relaxing Music on Agitation During Meals Among Nursing Home Residents With Severe Cognitive Impairment. (June 1994). Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.
- Art and Music. Alzheimer's Association.
- The Effect of Music Therapy on Cognitive Functions in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. (March 2023). Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.
- The Promise of Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review. (July 2022). Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
- Caregivers Take Note: Music as Therapy. (February 2012). Alzheimer’s Association.