Connecting through song: Using music to help patients with dementia

Dementia is a common form of neurological impairment that can affect an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and physical health. More than 55 million people across the globe are currently living with dementia. – many of whom live in low-income countries. Experiencing severe cognitive decline can bring about distressing and uncomfortable emotions for people living with dementia, who while also significantly affecting an individual’s ability to function worry about receiving adequate care and support. Additionally, loved ones providing care support to those living with dementia may struggle to determine the best approaches to care ways to care for dementia patients.

As dementia and Alzheimer’s disease research has received more funding, scientists have uncovered more creative— – and potentially more accessiblewidely available— – ways of supporting care. Such novel approaches can improve everyday functioning for people living with dementia as well as help them better interact with their loved ones. Connecting through music is one such recently developed such examplemethod involves connecting through music—engaging and easy-to-use strategy that many experts believe can produce significant benefits., And ahead, we’ll elaborate on the impact of music on dementia patients' common neurodegenerative symptoms and avenues for seeking mental health support and discuss ways you can incorporate music into a treatment plan for a loved one with dementia.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a neurocognitive conditioncollection of symptoms that can significantly impact mental abilitycognition, behavior, and simple dailyoverall functioning, including the capability to take care ofto care for oneself. Dementia is not a disease itself but rather a term to describe the effect of neurocognitive decline, which the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), refers to as “major neurocognitive disorder.”. 

The phrases terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s disease” are often conflated, but they are separate entities. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific condition that results in dementia, which may also arise out of several other neurodegenerative disorders. Other diseases that can lead to dementia symptoms include Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, alcohol-related dementia, and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. 

Dementia and diseases resulting in dementia typically tend to affect older adults. Dementia symptoms are progressive, and their effects and conditions are always irreversible, meaning patients individuals typically cannot re-attain the levels of cognitive functioning they experienced before developing them. Dementia can significantly impact a person’s memory, communication, and understanding.  Later stages of the disease may result in the loss of independent functioning and the need for the patient individual to live in an assisted memory care facility. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), , approximately 10 million new cases of dementia are reported annually Took out repeat. Most of these cases (60-70%) arise out of Alzheimer’s disease, which affects most of these patients, with 60-70% of dementia cases being linked to Alzheimer’s, and the remainder are associated with other, less- common forms of neurocognitive decline.  (this sentence does not make sense)

The impact of music interventions on patients with dementia

Research has indicated that musical interventions may provide opportunities for patients people with dementia to continue to find ways to express themselves, engage with their caregivers, and forge an emotional connection with other people. This beneficial effect remains significant continue even into the later stages of the condition, where when memory loss may have progressed to a point where the caused deterioration of the patient’s individual’s sense of self has almost entirely deteriorated, and verbal communication is may no longer be possible. 

 One research study, developed by Northwestern Medicine neurologist Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour— in collaboration with the Institute for Therapy through the Arts— further explored the impact of music on dementia patients experiencing dementia. While many studies have examined how music can improve mood and behavior in dementia patients those living with dementia, this intervention was the first of its kind to explore the impact that participating in musical activities together could have on the relationship between a dementia patient and their primary caregiver.

In the study, called the “Musical Bridges to Memory” intervention, a live ensemble played music from a dementia participant’s youth while they, the patient and their caregivers, enjoyed the music together by listening, singing, dancing, and playing small percussive instruments like maracas or the tambourine. Music therapists were also present to assist the study participants in fully maximizing their engagement with the music. 

Compared to the control group, patients individuals who participated in the musical intervention had enhanced social engagement with their caregivers, including higher levels of eye contact, lower levels decreased distraction, and increased communication with their caregiver both during and after the sessions.  had concluded. In fact, the change in dementia patients living with dementia was so significant that many caregivers brought additional family members to future music sessions to help improve their relationships and engagement with the dementia patient interactions.  

Researchers are still attempting to fully understand the ways certain forms of dementia may interact with brain structures., One proposed but it is thought that the reason patients people with dementia can still remember songs and have retain the ability to sing, even when they have lost the ability to speak, is because dementia targets different areas of the brain at different ratesdementia affects different areas of the brain at varying rates.  Repetitive sentence 

Musical memory and processing associated with musicality are associated with the cerebellum, which is typically one of the last areas of the brain to be affected by dementia. In contrast, the hippocampus (the area, which is linked to long-term and working memory), and the prefrontal cortex (the area, whichthat controls the brain's executive functioning), are usually some of the first structures to be impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or another other dementia-causing disorders. 

Ways to incorporate musical healing when caring for dementia patients to dementia care

If you are hoping to use music to enhance your relationship in caregiving relationship as your support for someone with dementia, there are a couple of helpful pieces of advice to keep in mind. Namely, if the patient individual can still make their own decisions, allow them to choose the music. Otherwise, make your best guess at picking try to pick music that you know they like or that you suspect will be familiar to them. If you need a better sense of where to start, look up what music was popular on the radio when the patient was a child or teenager.

If you are the person picking the music, you can be intentional about using music to help impact the patient’s individual’s mood. If the patient is they are feeling down, playing an upbeat song can lift their spirits, particularly if it is associated with pleasant memories from when they were younger. Suppose If, on the other hand, the patient they are in a state of agitation—, as can be expected for patients individuals experiencing dementia. In that case,— you can foster a calming atmosphere by selecting a slower, more tranquil music piece.

When playing the music, consider closing any e open windows and doors to the room. You may also want to turn off the TV and attempt to eliminate all other competing noises. Too much noise could lead to sensory overload for dementia individuals with dementia and distract them from the experience of the music. 

Speaking to a music therapist about the best ways to use music to enhance your relationship with the patient individual (doesn’t make sense) with dementia may also be beneficial. To start, try to make listening to music an active experience the two of you enjoy together. You can accomplish this task by incorporating collaborative movements such as clapping or dancing (though with older patients, you should observe them to ensure they do not fall). 

Finding support for living with dementia or caring for people with dementia. The role of online therapy in dementia care

It can be emotionally taxing to provide care for a dementia patient, and it can be an even more stressful experience if you are a person living with dementia repetitive wording can lead to numerous challenges, including increased stress, depression, and loneliness. It can also be emotionally taxing to provide care for an individual with dementia. In addition to listening to music and including other fun, relationship-building activities into the daily care routine can be helpful, consider speaking with a licensed therapist. and A mental health professional therapist can help you process your feelings and learn how to best take care of yourself may be even more beneficial to those in your care. 

Patients living with dementia may sometimes have difficulty with driving or transporting themselves to traditional in-person therapy appointments. For people providing care to dementia patients, it can be complicated to try and fit an in-person appointment into a caregiving schedule. In these instances, it might be helpful to consider online therapy. 

Research has demonstrated that online therapy is as effective as in-person treatment for mental health challenges that may be related to dementia. Researchers in one study found that attending online therapy sessions reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress—both in people living with dementia and their caregivers. The study also mentions the increased convenience and affordability of online therapy compared to in-person treatment. 

People living with dementia may sometimes have difficulty with driving or transporting themselves to traditional in-person therapy appointments. Additionally, for those providing care to people with dementia, it can be complicated to try and fit an in-person appointment into a caregiving schedule. In these instances, it might be helpful to consider online therapy.

If you are hoping to build on the benefits of music therapy in addressing dementia, online therapy could be a beneficial resource. 

Using an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, dementia patients and care providers can communicate with their licensed therapist from any location with an internet connection secure internet connection, eliminating the need to figure out appointment transportation. Choose the meeting time and format that works best for you. Video conference, video call, phone calls, and or in-app messaging.  Text messaging capabilities are all at your disposal.

Research has demonstrated that accessing therapy online may have just as positive an effect as attending traditional in-person therapy sessions. One study found that attending online therapy sessions reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in both dementia patients and caregivers. If you are hoping to build on the benefits of music therapy in addressing dementia, online therapy could be a beneficial resource.