Music is a recognised as a universal form of enjoyment worldwide and is shared amongst friends and families in our most cherished memories. Music and memories have a powerful connection that work together to deliver a warm sense of comfort and nostalgia.
Music not only has a positive impact on our mental health, but it has also been known to be incredibly beneficial to those with Alzheimer’s disease in reducing their anxiety and depression, helping to maintain their speech and language and even help to stimulate memories.
One of the first and the most important benefits is that music can provide comfort and enjoyment for the person with Alzheimer’s and their friends and family. Spending time together and listening to each other’s favourite music can be a truly powerful activity. Not only does it remind the person with Alzheimer’s that you are present, helping to increase their mood and leave a positive mark on the day, but it can also strengthen the relationship you share. Spending quality time together has a greater impact than you may have originally thought.
Music is an incredible tool in maintaining speech and language for people with Alzheimer’s. It can be as little as encouraging the person to hum along to the melody to prompting them to sing along. Recognising songs, humming and singing along can help slow down the deterioration of speech and language skills and maintain a level of communication. If your loved one has Alzheimer’s, it can be a fun and beneficial activity to play music and sing/hum along yourself and encourage them to join in.
Another benefit of music is the positive impact it can have on our mental health, and its ability to reduce anxiety and depression. Research has shown that music and music therapy can significantly increase mood and help reduce anxiety and depression. By activating the brain’s reward system, music helps the release of dopamine and other feel-good chemicals.
Music has the power to help stimulate memories and help people to connect with the past. Playing music from the past and singing along can help the person recall memories, by evoking thoughts and feelings once associated they once felt with the song.
If a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s, sharing music, engaging in conversation and reminiscing together can offer cognitive benefits, while also creating meaningful and heartwarming memories.