In my story “Monique’s Melody,” Coral Jones reads a magazine article about music therapy as she awaits Jennifer’s return to the interview. In the background, Dr. James Whitaker, a victim of senile dementia, plays the ukulele. It is a means of connecting with his dear deceased wife, decreasing his agitation and stress. In different ways, music plays a significant role in the lives of all the key players in this story. For now, let’s focus on how music is used for therapeutic purposes in the treatment—and even prevention—of dementia.
Dementia symptoms often include repetitive questioning, agitation, wandering, sleep problems, and depression. Music therapists use music to address these issues as they work with dementia patients. Since musical perception is processed throughout the brain, remarkable results start happening. The music’s comforting sensory stimulation positively influences mood, as well as alertness, balance and coordination, sleep, appetite, communication, cognition, and socialization. Though music therapy is not thought to reverse the loss of mental function, it can enhance what does remain—and may mitigate further deterioration.
Most people have had sentimental experiences with music. Emotional connections, deeply embedded in the brain, are preserved throughout life. Music is better preserved and resilient than other stored information, as it allows more primitive emotional and cognitive parts of the brain to connect. So long-term memories of melodies remain accessible even in individuals with advanced dementia, when only a limited amount of brain tissue can still function normally.
Dr. Jennifer Whitaker, a highly regarded doctor in my story, is aware of the benefits of music therapy as she tries to help her father. And Coral, reading that caregiver stress is also reduced, has another reason to be pleased to accept this job. As Jennifer later observes, music appreciation is Coral’s forte. Coral appreciates how music has played such a rich role, on a deep level, in her own life, in the life of Dr. James Whitaker, and in the lives of those she loves.
Sources:
- “Music Therapy and Dementia Care: Older Adults Living with Memory Disorders,” in American Music Therapy Association, Inc., copyright 2022, compiled by J. Geiger, et al.
- “Music Therapy and Dementia Prevention/Mitigation” interview with Dr. Concetta Tamaino, as seen on “Being Patient Alzheimer’s”: YouTube, Feb. 24, 2022
