Alzheimer’s Disease and Music
Can you hear me now? Neural pathways for music are not as affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) as much as other memories tracks. In fact, it is not uncommon for situations where music has been able to evoke a response or a memory in people with Alzheimer’s. For example, your mother may have difficulty finding the right words to use but be able to sing an entire song with no problem. Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer’s disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease. Musical memories appear to have stronger neural pathways than others and that can be beneficial; especially with the reduction of anxiety, depression, and agitation. The benefits are not just for someone with Dementia; music helps Caregivers by reducing anxiety, stress, and improving their mood while providing a connection to loved ones; especially for those who have difficult communication skills, which are typically lost as the dementia progresses. One study reported that Caregivers have a much higher risk of developing a serious illness so it may be just as important for the Caregiver as the person with Dementia. It’s a win win in a very tough battle. This is a battle that we must begin to address; the predictions are revealing that AD will be a very serious disorder causing extreme burdens on many segments of our society. Here are some recent facts as reported by The Alzheimer’s Association: 1. half of adults over 85 will develop AD, 2. over half of the 5.4 million Americans with AD may not know it, 3. more women have AD, 4. AD can develop in people as young as 30!!!, 5. AD will double within a few years due to our aging population, 6. it is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 7. there are over 16 million American Caregivers for Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia disorders.
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