| As you've no doubt experienced, a particular song | | | | draw comfort from it. |
| can take you back to a particular place and time; you | | | | It is not suggested, of course, that music can |
| remember where you were when you heard it and | | | | reverse awful effects of Alzheimer's disease, but |
| what you were doing. The song itself allowed you to | | | | music therapy can complement other forms of |
| access the memory and without it, you wouldn't of. | | | | treatment. |
| Music, therefore, can facilitate memory recall. | | | | Follow these great tips and see how music therapy |
| A recent study conducted at the University of Florida | | | | can be of benefit to sufferers Alzheimer's and a |
| confirmed that the benefits are not solely observed | | | | great tool for carers... |
| at the moment in time when sufferers are listening | | | | 1. Identify music that's familiar and enjoyable to the |
| to, and enjoying, the music, but it actually affected | | | | listener. Find out what kind of music the person grew |
| them physiologically. They found that a music therapy | | | | up listening to. Songs from childhood work really well |
| programme raised melatonin levels and improved | | | | because they can be remembered more easily. |
| behaviour and sleeping problems. | | | | 2. CDs are better than radio as you have total |
| Listening to familiar music can be both enjoyable and | | | | control; interruption by commercials can cause |
| comforting; relieving stress and anxiety and improving | | | | confusion. |
| mood. An old familiar or favourite tune can stir | | | | 3. Use music to create the mood you want. Use |
| emotions and memories, putting the sufferer in a | | | | energetic music to enliven and relaxing music before |
| better frame of mind, and encouraging better social | | | | bed. |
| relations. Listeners become stimulated, clapping or | | | | 4. Link music with other things that can help stir their |
| singing along. In a group setting, the music may | | | | memories such as photographs. |
| prompt listeners to reminisce about their past and | | | | 5. Encourage movement such as dancing or clapping |
| interact with one another. | | | | which will increase enjoyment. |
| Whilst people with Alzheimer's can lose the ability to | | | | 6. Avoid distractions such as competing noises by |
| speak or recognize loved ones as the disease | | | | shutting windows and doors and by turning off the |
| progresses, but many remember songs from long | | | | television. |
| ago. In the later stages of dementia, sufferers may | | | | 7. Ideally, try to listen to about 30-40 minutes of |
| not recognise family but may remember a song, and | | | | music a day, for at least five days each week. |