Introduction
Music is one of the few creative elements of life that is universally appreciated. How many times have we walked into a café and heard a specific song on the radio that transports us back to a specific memory, say a dance from secondary school or a friend’s wedding? Our senses act as inherent time machines, our portals to jump right back into moments in time.
But for those who struggle with memory, as a result of a disease symptom, the ageing process, or both, can sensory triggers be utilised as tools to help with memory and communication reconstruction? New studies have shown how music therapy is demonstrating beneficial results for those struggling with dementia.
Living with Alzheimer’s Disease
People living with dementia (an umbrella term that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions) suffer from loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia1, accounting for 60–80% of cases. From 2019 to 2030, the number of people living with dementia will increase from 55 million to 78 million globally. Every 3 seconds, someone in the world develops dementia2.
AD is a condition in which many of the nerve cells in the brain have died. This severely impacts a person’s ability to think clearly and remember things, which can lead to confusion, behavioural changes, and diminished communication skills. The problems that arise with a struggle with memory and critical thinking include changes in behaviour3.
In severe cases, patients may require 24/7 assistance with personal care, lose awareness of recent experiences and surroundings, or have difficulty communicating. A person with AD may not be initiating engagement but can still benefit from positive interactions such as receiving reassurance or listening to music4.
How Music Therapy Can Help
Pharmacological interventions are available for dementia patients, but these have limited effects in treating many of the disease’s features. However, several studies have proposed therapy with music as a possible co-strategy to slow down cognitive decline and behavioural changes5.
Musical memory is a form of implicit memory, and researchers have recently found that musical memory might occupy a part of the brain that is more immune to becoming affected by dementia5. Dr Bethany Cood, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and board-certified music therapist, states, ‘These foundational memories and songs are locked together in deeper vaults down windy mountain roads that dementia doesn’t seem to be able to fully crush. I’ve seen a person not recognise their spouse of 65 years, but when I play their wedding song, this individual turns to their spouse and they recognise them and dance.’6
Recent studies are now focusing on non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy to assist those with dementia. Music therapy involves using a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood, behaviour, and overall well-being. This therapy typically includes creating music, listening to music, or singing and dancing to music7.
In one specific study, a 12-week intervention, called musical bridges to memory, was enacted and included an assessment of musical preferences among people with dementia and baseline assessment data such as sociable behaviours and dementia severity. The intervention included training for caregivers, live 45-minute concerts, and breakout sessions after the concerts. The researchers then conducted follow-up assessments using a neuropsychiatric symptoms questionnaire, evaluating behaviours, and receiving feedback from caregivers7.
Among the intervention group, there were improved non-verbal social behaviours when compared with the control group. The individuals with dementia
demonstrated more eye contact, interest, focus, and calmness with their caregivers. The caregivers also reported decreased levels of stress and noted that the programme helped them to connect better with their loved ones and improve the quality of their relationships7.
Next Steps for Music Therapy Studies
Researchers have noted that studies with evaluation scales more specific to musical bridges to memory may be helpful in future research7. Owing to the multiple variables in music therapy studies, more studies are necessary to obtain further information about music therapy’s success with dementia patients and how it can be utilised as treatment. Further analyses of the types of effects that music therapy produces are also necessary. Dr Borna Bondkarpour, neurologist, and associate professor of neurology at Northwestern Medicine, states, ‘We also need to look into some physiologic measures to confirm that this effect has biological and not only psychological effects on patients and caregivers.’7
Many more quality trials are needed to suggest that music is beneficial for not only improving psychological symptoms, such as depression or aggression, but also other improvements such as memory5. Additionally, future tests should include a high number of participants and be randomised. Clinical trials should evaluate cognitive function and the disease’s behavioural features using the same groups of tests to yield comparable results. The studies should also focus on long-term results and should be sensitive to the nature and severity of the participants’ dementia8.
Conclusion
For people living with dementia, the natural ability to enjoy music provides a very impactful tool to enhance their quality of life. When looking at the positive outputs of music therapy studies, it serves everyone’s best interests to become aware of the symptoms of dementia and to become more cognisant of the potential for music to improve the lives of people with dementia5.
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By Brianna Borrego
WORKS CITED
