Community Corner
10 Reasons Why Music Can Help People With Their Memory
“10 Reasons Why Music Can Help People With Their Memory”
All of our lives we are exposed to music and rhythms around us. From our mother’s voice, childhood songs and school time favorites to religious or patriotic songs and dance tunes. We have our favorites and they evoke a very real response when we hear them. Our personal memories are embedded in music and, according to Dr. Oliver Sacks, we can respond and react to music emotionally without even being especially musical. This is because music is processed in the brain where memories, mood and emotions are processed. In essence, the stronger the emotion tied to the music, the stronger the connection to that memory.
Playing or listening to familiar music is effective to induce memory and can even help someone with dementia regain a sense of identity for the following reasons:
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1. Music is welcomed and liked and a non-threatening way to relate to feelings.
2. It bypasses barriers in culture, language and disabilities.
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3. It can transport a person back in time.
4. Music memories are embedded in long term memory and in the entire brain-not just one area.
5. It is a part of a person’s identity and history.
6. It can be fun and reduces anxiety.
7. It is cognitively stimulating because it’s a creative activity as well as being conducive to movement.
8. It can increase attention span.
9. It encourages social interaction, which is brain healthy.
10. It improves overall health by boosting immunity and reducing stress, which can enhance memory retrieval.
So, listen to those favorite tunes and let them take you back in time. It has proven to be better at lowering anxiety than drugs and can be “self soothing”. Music is the magic medium that can best release treasured memories. Just listening to music helps our brains to organize thoughts. Playing or learning to play a musical instrument is an excellent way to use music to strengthen your brain. A healthy brain leads to a better memory.
If a person has a memory problem or dementia, they have difficulty processing new memories so it is critical to help them focus on the past so they are not trapped by their disability. Reminiscing, especially with the use of music, is a bridge to the past. Using multiple sensory cues has added benefits and is typically most effective. There are all kinds of prompts or cues that can be used along with music such as collectibles, photographs, musicals, videos or even religious items. The smell of spices or perfume can be powerful triggers, especially when combined with recognizable music. The idea is to connect with the emotional memory.
Music is the soundtrack of our lives. Take out those old records, tapes or CDs and play them. Turn on the radio or, if you have access to the internet, listen to your favorites on YouTube. You can make up a playlist on Spotify.com or Pandora.com. Visit MusicandMemory.org to learn how they are using iPods and people’s favorite music to “awaken” people with Alzheimer’s Disease. You can also go to LifeSongs.info to learn more about the science behind music and memory and to order a LifeSongs recordable memory book. They were designed by a memory care professional as a tool to tell a person’s life story through picture collages and 12 songs (one for each page). Someone’s daughter commented, “It was music to my ears to learn that Mom’s favorite songs could trigger long lost memories.” You, too, can use music to exercise your brain’s memory mechanism and to recollect special moments for
