musictherapyfordementia

[musictherapyfordementia]

6 Benefits of Music Therapy for Dementia

Every now and then we all forget from time to time, but how about when we are older and our forgetfulness becomes more problematic? What if we start to forget ourselves and the people we are close to? Over 5 million people have dementia in the United States and there are 100 diseases that will cause one to have dementia or even Alzeheimer’s disease. Studies have shown Music Therapy seems to be the answer to many of the difficulties caused by dementia.

Music Therapy is a type of therapy that uses music to improve client’s physical and mental health. Clients can do one of the two forms of therapy, either creating the music themselves with instruments or their voice or listening to music and responding to it with drawings, writing or various other responses that best fit them.

1. Music Therapy helps to engage in Conversation

Music Therapy encourages communication between dementia patients and others. An experiment was done to see the effects of Music Therapy on a man by the name of Henry who has dementia and didn’t communicate well with anyone. He would just sit around and speak when spoken too not starting conversation with anyone. This had to do much with the fact that he could not speak, because he had nothing to talk about with no memories. To change that he was given music of his favorite artists from back in his day by a researcher of Music Therapy to see if perhaps he could regain some of his memory. The researcher said “After the music has stopped, remarkably, Henry retains for a period his animation and cognitive awakening, able to respond to questions and to converse a little with his careers.” This was remarkable to see in Henry as he had never been seen to converse much and music did that. Communication is an important part of our existence as without it, it is as if we are not alive.

2. Music Therapy Encourages Movement

Many elderly people who are suffering with dementia or Alzheimer’s could end up in a vegetative state as they cannot communicate they do not move as much. This is especially seen in nursing homes, since none of them are around family to try to engage with them on a consistent basis, they are left alone sitting in their bed. When given music, it encourages them to move to the music. They begin to move their heads, clap their hands, or move their feet to the beat.

3. Music Therapy Improves Quality of Self

Wall and Duffy, a Recreation Nurse and University Lecturer have explained through analysis of past research, that music has the ability to enhance life through action responses, finding yourself, becoming aware of what around you, and raising your self-worth. All of these play a part in meeting ones need for “self-expression, achievement and meaning in life.

4. Music Therapy Helps Induce Social Actions

A study was conducted by Lesta and Petocz on mood and social behaviors. The results that came from the study included a decrease in anxiety, as well as social behaviors that include eye contact and smiling were increased. This may not seem like much, but when you think about it, that is the basis of communication. To be able to look at the person you’re talking to and acknowledge that they are there as well as show you are listening. This regained ability to show eye contact gives friends and family members a sign of relief to know and feel their loved one with dementia is able to show signs of listening, which thus improves the communication between them. Adding to eye contact, to regain the ability to smile is important as well. The elder with dementia is able to express the emotion of happiness. Something they may have not felt for a while if they previously were known to only sit around and show a face of content or sadness.

5. Music Therapy Improves Behavior

Music has shown to improve behaviors in the elderly with dementia. As music generally makes them happy it reduces many negative behaviors like crying. Researchers Lesta and Petocz approached their client Mrs. M’s condition with the use of Music Therapy, having her use musical instruments like tambourines, glockenspiels, and xylophones, as well as having her sing too. She was looked over during the entire process for any progress in her emotionally, behaviorally, and cognitively. Mrs. M took part in 50 total individual sessions, each session was 30 minutes lead by a trained music therapist.

The progress Mrs. M had made was noticeable as there were a decrease in behavioral disturbances such as crying, wandering, and needless movements. Mrs. M was able to make a significant improvement in her life with her dementia. She was able to decrease her depression and become happier and live more comfortably than before.

6. Music Therapy Keeps Memories Intact and Could Possibly Bring Back Memories

Music connects people to who’ve they been and who they are. As one gets older, memories and identity are being pulled away. Luckily music memories are very strong memories, because music has more ability to activate more parts of the brain than any other stimulus.

Memory was shown to be more intact through one study that had Alzheimer patients trying to recall memories while listening to music of their choice, their therapist’s choice and in silence. Patients also produced more self-defining memories than autobiographical episodes or personal-semantics during exposure to their own-chosen music. The recall of memories is possible through Music Therapy, which is a huge benefit considering these patients have Alzheimer’s that is eating away at their brain.

The ability many have gained to communicate better with others around them is tremendous. To smile and engage in eye contact to physically show signs of active listening and understanding is what many family members and friends ask for from their loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s. As well as behavioral and emotional improvements that have shown to bring happiness. Less crying, wandering, needless movements, and more smiling, interactive movement, and engaging. Lastly the cognitive and memory improvements are remarkable to see in such a disease that takes away the ability to properly use your brain and recall memories. These all are reasons to recognize the significance and impact Music Therapy has on elders with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Works Cited

Fang, Rong, et al. “Music Therapy Is a Potential Intervention for Cognition of Alzheimer's Disease: a Mini-Review.” Translational Neurodegeneration, vol. 6, no. 2, 25 Jan. 2017, PubMed, doi:10.1186/s40035-017-0073-9. Accessed 22 Feb. 2017.

Haj, Mohamad El, et al. “Self-Defining Memories during Exposure to Music in Alzheimer's Disease.” International Psychogeriatrics, vol. 27, no. 10, 2015, pp. 1719–1730., doi:10.1017/s1041610215000812. Accessed 17 Apr. 2017.

Raglio, Alfredo, et al. “Music Therapy in Frontal Temporal Dementia: A Case Report.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 60, no. 8, 13 Aug. 2012, pp. 1578–1579. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04085.x. Accessed 26 Feb. 2017.

Rossato-Bennett, Michael, et al. Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory. Projector Media, BOND/360, City Drive Films, 2014.

Schaeffer, Juliann. “Music Therapy in Dementia Treatment — Recollection Through Sound.” TodaysGeriatricMedicine, Great Valley Publishing Co., Inc., www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/news/story1.shtml. Accessed 17 Mar. 2017.

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