Dementia, you can use Music to Better Manage Symptoms

Jonathan Graff-Radford, M.D. in a post in the Mayo Clinic talked about how music can help, here are some of his ideas with others I think work as well.

Music is helpful in other ways when dealing with Alzheimer’s.  Clapping hands, tapping feet, and even dancing when possible helps promote physical activity which contributes to an improved state of wellness.  Singing to the music can help elevate moods and stimulate positive memories that might otherwise remain locked up in their minds.  Music that is soothing can put your loved one at ease during mealtime and personal hygiene routines, making each one a more pleasant experience for everyone involved.

People battling memory loss have difficulty focusing, so it’s advisable turn off televisions and close outside doors so there are no audible distractions.  When the patient is reacting positively to the music, try to keep conversations softly spoken and limited so he or she can concentrate better on the sounds they enjoy.

Compiling an Alzheimer’s musical playlist is not an exact science.  A song you think will generate a positive reaction might have the opposite effect, so pay close attention to how your loved one is responding to the various tunes played.  Eventually, you will be able to identify what music works best in any given situation.

If you would like to use music to help a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease, consider these tips:

Think about your loved one's preferences. What kind of music does your loved one enjoy? What music evokes memories of happy times in his or her life? Involve family and friends by asking them to suggest songs or make playlists.

Set the mood. To calm your loved one during mealtime or a morning hygiene routine, play music or sing a song that's soothing. When you would like to boost your loved one's mood, use more upbeat or faster paced music.

Avoid overstimulation. When playing music, eliminate competing noises. Turn off the TV. Shut the door. Set the volume based on your loved one's hearing ability. Opt for music that is not interrupted by commercials, which can cause confusion.

Encourage movement. Help your loved one to clap along or tap his or her feet to the beat. If possible, consider dancing with your loved one.

Sing along. Singing along to music together with your loved one can boost the mood and enhance your relationship. Some early studies also suggest musical memory functions differently than other types of memory, and singing can help stimulate unique memories.

Pay attention to your loved one's response. If your loved one seems to enjoy particular songs, play them often. If your loved one reacts negatively to a particular song or type of music, choose something else.

Keep in mind that music might not affect your loved one's cognitive status or quality of life. Further research to better understand the precise effects of music and Alzheimer's disease is needed.

Music and Alzheimer’s Disease

I love to listen to music.  I listen to music driving in my car, and while I am relaxing or writing.  Listening to music helps me cope with the stress and anxiety that happens in my everyday life. There is no cure yet for Alzheimer’s.  While medical science continues its search for answers, the magic of music will help make the symptoms of the disease more manageable. Research shows that music activities (both music listening and music making) can influence older adults’ perceptions about the quality of their lives. Some research has examined the effects of music listening on biological markers of health and subjective perceptions of wellbeing.

Music can also benefit caregivers by reducing anxiety and distress, lightening the mood and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease — especially those who have difficulty communicating. For example, music can:

Relieve stress

Reduce anxiety and depression

Reduce agitation

Music has been found to stimulate parts of the brain and studies listed below have demonstrated that music enhances the memory of Alzheimer's and dementia patients, including a study conducted at UC Irvine, which showed that scores on memory tests of Alzheimer's patients improved when they listened to classical music (Cheri Lucas, Education.com, "Boost Memory and Learning with Music," pbs.org).

The cognitive and neural benefits of musical experience continues throughout the lifespan, and counteract some of the negative effects of aging, such as memory and hearing difficulties in older adults (Parbery-Clark A, A.S., Kraus N. , Musical Experience and Hearing Loss: Perceptual, Cognitive and Neural Benefits in Association for Research in Otolaryngology Symposium. 2014: San Diego, CA).

Involvement in participatory arts programs has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health, physical health, and social functioning in older adults, regardless of their ability. The arts also contribute to communicating, building a sense of identity, preserving or restoring social capital, and strengthening social networks in communities (Arts in Aging report from the National Endowment for the Arts. Accessed on 8/21/2015 http://www.cms.msu.edu/docs/BenefitsMusic-Adult.pdf).

Other studies on the psychological and social benefits associated with music making activities have demonstrated that participants often place considerable value on these “nonmusical” benefits of music activity (Coffman, D. D. 2002. Music and quality of life in older adults. Psychomusicology, 18, 76-88).

Playing music reduces stress and has been shown to reverse the body's response to stress at the DNA-level (Dr. Barry Bittman).

Playing music "significantly" lowered the heart rates and calmed and regulated the blood pressures and respiration rates of patients who had undergone surgery (Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Neb., and St. Mary's Hospital in Mequon, Wis.).

Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study with 30 depressed people over 80 years of age and found that participants in a weekly music therapy group were less anxious, less distressed and had higher self-esteem (Friedman, “Healing Power of the Drum,” 1994).

Parkinson's Disease and Stroke: Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, according to Michael Thaurt, director of Colorado State University's Center of Biomedical Research in Music.

Researchers have also discovered that hearing slow, steady rhythms, such as drumbeats, helps Parkinson patients move more steadily (Friedman, “Healing Power of the Drum,” 1994).

Research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer's disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease.

 

How do you cope with the new normal?

There are times of stress in life when we really do not know what we need or want. So, I reached out to people I knew that had chronic conditions and asked what is it that helps you as you struggle with your condition and the new normal. Their responses were uplifting. 

I appreciate it when my husband offers to help me when he can see I am struggling. He is my best friend that offers me a shoulder to lean on when I’m feeling down.

My cure for getting out of my own head is doing one nice thing for someone else each day. Nothing big, it might be as simple as holding a door for someone or driving friendly and thinking of other drivers. Once I got in the habit of doing random acts of kindness it’s amazing how it keeps your mind in a positive mental state. It seems the more you give away the more you get back.

Some of us are just not good at asking for help. It does give a good feeling when we do things for others, sometimes it's just sitting and being there. If a name comes to mind, I just pick up the phone and call to say high. A friend doesn't need to solve anything just to be there.

With COVID, it's difficult to give hugs or smiling faces to lift their spirits, I found that the best solution for me is to just listen or sometimes I just share a funny story or incident.

My husband has finally learned to just listen if I choose to share where my thoughts are. I also have 2 good friends and a sister who I share with and try to call them if I sense they are feeling low. We just need to let people know we care and that it is OK to be down occasionally.

I wish being just polite, just polite was practiced by more people. I am shy and being shy some people think I am being a snob. I am not, so just be an ear, a listening ear, nobody actually walks the walk-in the life of another. Sometimes just listening to others helps

I have dealt with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks all my life, so I tried to explain to people what is going on with me, usually, it is accepted, but other times not so much. The hardest thing...is I understand why some people just don’t get it.

Decades I have lived in:

As James Taylor said in a song, I have seen Fire and I've seen rain, but I always thought I would see you again.  As we move to the last few weeks of 2020 here is a list of songs that are for all the people who have lost loved ones during this incredibly sad year.

Decades I have been alive in 

The:

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Early 2020

March to May 2020

June to July 2020

August to September 2020

October to November 2020

Music can help us through this decade of 2020. Here is a link to the 50 + songs about death and dying, some are sad, some are happy and some are calming. 

The Saddest songs about death according to Google

1.          “Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton.

2.          “I'll Be Missing You” by Diddy, Faith Evans,

3.          “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion` 

4.          “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day. 

5.          “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor.

6.          “Hurt” by Johnny Cash. 

7.          “Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley and Alison Kraus.

8.          "Angel” by Sarah McLachlan 

9.          “If Tomorrow Never Comes” by Garth Brooks

10.      “Time to Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman 

11.      “Only The Good Die Young” by Billy Joel 

12.      “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

13.      “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan

14.      “Dream On” by Aerosmith 

15.      “American Pie” by Don McLean 

Do you have any favourite songs you want to add to this list?