Music And Alzheimer’s: An Awakening Of Emotions

Music and Alzheimer’s have a strange, powerful and fascinating relationship. Patients in an advanced stage of the disease suddenly experience a wonderful awakening when they listen to a song from their youth. The music, full of rhythm that almost, without knowing how, unlocks memories and cognitive abilities until they wrap them in a sea of ​​wonderful emotions…

Some say it’s a little mystery. Neurologists say it’s our brain. For reasons we still do not know or understand, areas of the brain associated with long-term musical memory are still intact and preserved. Psychologists, on the other hand, as well as therapists and family members who take care of their loved ones from day to day, know that music is above all the greatest comfort for people suffering from this devastating disease.

Musical memory

Perhaps many will recognize the name Glen Campbell. He was an American “country” music icon throughout the 60’s and 70’s. He died not so long ago, after a hard coexistence with Alzheimer’s. His story could be anyone’s story. As for many others who had a fabulous life, full of successes, difficulties and unforgettable moments, he encountered an illness that obliterates or obscures memories.

The situation around Glen Campbell has been one of the most striking from a clinical point of view for a special reason: he never stopped singing or playing his guitar. Furthermore, as he sang and played, he regained some of his clarity, to the point that he could travel on several tours. At certain moments he spoke to his audience and commented that he had managed to distance himself from alcohol, but not from the “abominable” disease.

It is a fascinating case. A story that invites us to ask ourselves what lies behind this relationship between music and Alzheimer’s…

Music and Alzheimer’s, a mystery we have begun to solve

It has been known for a long time . Researchers have always been very aware that there was a unique link, a retaining wall between music and Alzheimer’s, where a strange agreement was reached: the progressive degeneration of the brain does not affect the structures related to long-term musical memory. It was not until relatively recently that, thanks to new neuroradiology techniques, something as interesting as this could be observed.

According to a study conducted at the Max Planck Institute of Cognitive and Human Brain Sciences in Leipzig, researchers located the areas associated with musical memory for the first time. They discovered, as expected, that they were (almost) intact.

Dr. Jörn-Henrik Jacobsen, lead researcher, said that until recently we believed that our musical abilities were located in the temporal lobe. However, the diagnostic tests clearly showed something else: the musical memory is located in the brain in the primary motor area of ​​the cerebral cortex.  Alzheimer’s and its destructive shadow hardly affect this particular area of ​​the brain, this magical corner. There is less nerve cell loss, and amyloid protein deposits are not severely affected either. That is, the area is still active, it still works.

Benefits of music in Alzheimer’s patients

Music is a primary medium in our autobiographical archive. There are moments in our life cycle that are related to a song, a melody, a specific context, the people who made or composed them and the emotions that were experienced.

So, when a person suffering from Alzheimer’s hears a tune that is meaningful to them, we get the following:

• Reduced anxiety and anguish.
• Reduced agitation.
• Improved mood. They reconnect to their environment. Now, the most fascinating thing is that it is an emotional connection. It is like an awakening of emotions, to joy and to a pleasure that only a few seconds ago remained in stagnation.

How can I help someone I love with music if they have Alzheimer’s?

At this point, we know that there is a very positive, direct relationship between music and Alzheimer’s. It is very possible that many of our readers who have a family member with this disease, want to enjoy a moment of connection with their loved ones. Besides, what we want above all is to see a smile drawn on their faces.

Let’s look at the guidelines for doing this in the best way:

• Think about the musical preferences of your family member. The songs, melodies, ballads or concerts that are a part of your life.
• Choose the most appropriate moment, a moment of a day where they are calm and relaxed.
• Create a conducive environment, without external stimuli, in a quiet and comfortable place.
• Put on the headphones. This makes the musical experience more significant. The concentration is more intense and the effect is maintained for a longer time in the brain.
• Encourage movement, help them follow the rhythm. Pat them on the hands, let them move their feet. You can even try dancing with them. The experience will then be more rewarding.

Finally, remember to pay attention to their reaction. It is possible that some songs or types of music do not give them pleasure. Or that there are others who invite them to react in a more positive way . The most important thing is that we are present with them, that we feel that they are with us. And that for a moment, we can embrace them, to feel how their essence, their authentic being shines through again…