Music has plenty of health benefits which are beneficial to our mental and physical health. Such as reducing anxiety and depression, help maintain speech and language, and among many of those benefits that music provides it can also be found in settling of dementia.
Dementia is a condition characterised by impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgement.
Symptoms include forgetfulness, limited social skills or engagement, and thinking abilities so impaired that it interferes with daily functioning.
A recent study published on Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders found that, utilising a specific form of music therapy helped improve social engagement among people with dementia and their caregivers. The intervention also lowered caregiver distress.
On numerous research done on the impact of music in a human’s life, music has been found to help improve mood and promote well-being.
Music therapist Scott Horowitz, LPC, a licensed professional counsellor and clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University who’s not involved in the study, told Medical News Today the following:
“Our sensory experiences as human beings are connected with our memories. For people with dementia or other cognitive impairments, often those associations remain even if other elements of their memory are impaired and impacted. You could play a piece of music that holds meaning to them — and that memory is going to be triggered.”
Benefits of music on dementia:
It encourages movement
One of the biggest benefits of music therapy is the increased healthy movement. Music can be the gateway to purposeful movement, whether that is clapping, swaying, or dancing. In the proper therapeutic setting, this movement can help the person increase strength, balance, and endurance, which can lead to decreased fall risk and increased motor function.
It’s good for communication
Music is the perfect addition to dementia communication, offering a new way to increase social interaction and positive experiences as people with dementia have difficulties in areas of language that are a common symptom among people with dementia.
It’s accessible
You can make the effort to use music throughout your day together, whether it is by turning on a favourite playlist to increase energy in the morning or humming a favourite hymn to encourage relaxation in the evening.
Music is helpful at the end of life, enhances quality of life and has a positive impact on individuals.
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