| Dementia, characterized by severe impairment of the | | | | mind and makes possible some amount of social, |
| person's intellectual capacity, emotional disturbance | | | | emotional or cognitive connection. Symptoms such as |
| and personality changes, is caused by a number of | | | | agitation and confusion among those people suffering |
| different reasons such as the loss of neurons in the | | | | from dementia can also be soothed out by the |
| brain due to head injury, metabolic disorders, or even | | | | relaxing and soothing effects of music. |
| due to a tumor in the brain. | | | | The degree of familiarity, the degree of liking of the |
| The human brain has 2 hemispheres -- the left | | | | patient for that particular music and the memories |
| hemisphere and the right hemisphere. A large section | | | | associated with the music or the significance that the |
| of the person's brain is usually damaged in a patient | | | | music holds for the individual are certain factors which |
| suffering from dementia. While the language skills of a | | | | define the extent of positive impact or beneficial |
| person are exclusively controlled by the left | | | | effects of the music therapy. While a familiar music |
| hemisphere of the brain, music is perceived by many | | | | can elicit positive responses such as tapping of |
| different parts of the brain rather than just one | | | | fingers and feet to the tune, humming, rhythmic |
| particular part of the brain since the different | | | | movement of body organs with the music, or a |
| elements of music such as rhythm, pitch, and melody | | | | change of expression on the face, unfamiliar music |
| are all processed differently by distinct parts of the | | | | fails to register itself in the brain in the first place. |
| human brain. Therefore, it is capable of reaching the | | | | Therefore, we cannot find positive effects in the |
| remaining healthy sections of the patient's brain. | | | | patient when unfamiliar music is played during the |
| Music is received and processed by different brain | | | | music therapy sessions. Similarly, familiar setting can |
| stem cells and therefore, even severely demented | | | | help the patient relate more to the place, and makes |
| people can respond to music. Music can be perceived | | | | him feel more reassured and comforted. |
| and hence, used as a means of communication for | | | | The music therapist must be very careful about the |
| people suffering from dementia, whose skills of | | | | pitch and the volume of the music used for therapy |
| comprehending or learning languages is severely | | | | because even these factors have a great impact on |
| impaired. When all other modes of communication fail | | | | the patient. While a high pitch and high volume can |
| to make any impact, music, with its non-verbal | | | | cause anxiety and pressure to build up, a low pitch |
| stimulant qualities, tends to penetrate the patient's | | | | makes them feel more relaxed. |