If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s Disease, there may be days where you just feel helpless. It might seem like no treatment is working, that your loved one’s struggles with communication and mood swings are only progressing, with no end in sight. Alzheimer’s can be a devastating disease – but there are ways to possibly help patients meet those milestones – to encourage communication, peace of mind, and even joy in patients and their loved ones.

One way is through music. Believe it or not, the effect of music on Alzheimer’s patients has been studied carefully for decades and has been found to be one of the most effective ways to help patients with communication, mood, and memory. While music is no cure from Alzheimer’s, it is a medicine-free treatment that can make an enormous difference for both patients and their caregivers.

For patients with Alzheimer’s, peace can be hard to come by. Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disorder that impacts language, memory, thinking, movement, problem solving, and personality. That’s a long list – so you can only imagine how difficult it is for patients to lose control of their basic abilities until they cannot perform daily tasks anymore. The disease is as frustrating as it is debilitating, as heartbreaking as it is exhausting, and patients will often face severe confusion, anxiety, and even depression.

People with Alzheimer’s have an increasingly difficult time communicating. Language gets lost as confusion and memory problems get more severe – and eventually, your loved one could lose their ability to speak at all. Without being able to communicate, it can be impossible to understand how your loved one is feeling, what she needs, and what she wants. That can make the act of caregiving, or even of spending time with your loved one, particularly challenging.

It can be devastating for you and your loved one when your loved one can’t communicate what they need – and you just want to make sure you are taking good care of them, that they are comfortable and content. While music cannot help a person speak in full sentences again or fully recover their communication – it has been proven to help a person express herself – among a myriad of other positive things. For a person with Alzheimer’s, this is a really big deal, and can mean the difference between discontent and frustration and peace and joy.

Today, we’ll dive into how music helps patients with Alzheimer’s – and what you can do to use music to help your loved one. From the research that proves just how effective this form of therapy is, to how and when to use it, we’ll cover all you need to know about music and Alzheimer’s disease in today’s episode of All Home Care Matters.

Jeff Anderson, MD, PHD, and associate professor of radiology at University of Utah Health, was a contributing author of a study on how music can help patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s. “People with dementia are confronted by a world that is unfamiliar to them, which causes disorientation and anxiety,” he told reporters following the study, “we believe music will tap into the salience network of the brain that is still relatively functioning.”

Sure enough, that’s exactly what the study found. Patients underwent MRI brain scans as they listened to both music and silence. The music chosen was specific to that patient’s life – a list of songs that caregivers and loved ones believed would be especially meaningful to them.

Through the brain scans, researchers found that when music was playing, the brain seemed to be awakened. According to Science Daily, the results of the study found that, “by listening to the soundtrack, the visual network, the salience network, the executive network, and the cerebellar and corticocerebellar network pairs all showed significantly higher functional connectivity.”

In short, the brain imaging showed that listening to meaningful music can activate the brain – perhaps making symptoms more manageable and improving the quality of a patient’s life. This study only researched 17 patients – but it is one of dozens that has tackled the subject matter – and found overwhelmingly positive results.

A similar study at The University of California at Davis found that music lessens the aggressive behaviors of Alzheimer’s patients and decreases the amount of medication needed. This study followed 4,107 patients in 265 nursing homes across California. It found that “the use of antipsychotic drugs declined by 13% and anti-anxiety medications declined by 17% each quarter for residents with dementia using the music program. The odds of depressive symptoms decreased 16% per quarter and the odds of reported pain decreased 17% per quarter. In addition, the number of days on medications declined by 30% and aggressive behaviors reduced by 20%.”

So, why does music work so well for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients? Well, for one thing, our musical memory is stronger than the part of our brain that stores names, faces, and words. Ever listened to a song you hadn’t heard since high school and been surprised when you remembered every lyric? The same is true for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.

In some cases, patients with dementia have been able to complete full songs on the piano, even when they struggle to communicate anything else. That’s because music – along with the muscle memory that makes it so hard to forget how to ride a bike or throw a ball – is known as Procedural Memory. Explicit Memory is what stores other information – like faces, names, events, and reasoning. So, when a dementia patient forgets aspects of their Explicit Memory, their Procedural Memory often remains unaffected.

Research has found that for some patients – particularly those with musical backgrounds themselves – have a preserved response to music, even after their dementia is in its advanced stages. According to Practical Neurology, “familiar tunes and lyrics can be recognized across all stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Due to bonds formed early in life between highly familiar tunes and lyrics, the ability to recognize such information is very functional in individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Now, this doesn’t mean that a person with Alzheimer’s will be belting out every lyric of an old favorite song – but it does mean that the song may illicit a reaction – like a smile, a laugh, or even dancing – from a patient. In some cases, a patient will sing along to the lyrics – even in the late-stages of Alzheimer’s. 

Music helps people with Alzheimer’s recall memories and emotions – especially in the earlier stages of the disease. This is because in addition to music being stored in a different section of our memory, music also evokes emotion. According to neurologist Oliver Sacks, “music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory…it brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.”

In addition, music aptitude and appreciation are abilities that last in Alzheimer’s patients even after many other abilities have deteriorated. That means that a person can be reached through music even after other means of communication are lacking. So, music is sort of a window to the soul in this way – a way to connect on a personal level with a loved one, when other methods have not succeeded.

Emotional connectivity is especially meaningful in the later stages of Alzheimer’s, after a person has lost the ability to engage physically and emotionally with a loved one. When a patient listens to music, they might dance – which can lead to touching, hugging, or even just a level of togetherness they have not felt in some time. Socialization, especially meaningful socialization in the form of human contact, can help a person have an increased quality of life – and make them feel at peace and contented.

This also helps with communication. Music is a way for a person to communicate without needing to speak. They can indicate how they feel by reacting to a song. When they come to life through music, it’s because they feel connected in communication in a way they simply aren’t without the use of music.

It’s not just listening to music. Many folks with Alzheimer’s or dementia take music or singing lessons or engage in interactive music therapy. Singing and playing an instrument exercises the brain in an engaging and fun way for patients. The more a brain is exercised, the stronger and healthier it will be.

Music also works wonders for stress and anxiety – both prevalent in Alzheimer’s patients. Music engages the parts of the brain involved in cognition, emotion, socialization, and even motor functioning. Music decreases stress and anxiety in people across all walks of life, and Alzheimer’s patients are no different. The calming and familiar sound of music can help a person feel safe and secure, nostalgic and even joyful.

This is so important for Alzheimer’s patients because so much of the world feels unfamiliar to them as they lose their memory and grip on reality. Music can keep them grounded, help them to feel at home, even in the late stages of the disease.

It’s not surprising, then, that music can help a great deal with changes in mood and agitation. Mood swings are ever common in Alzheimer’s patients, and they can be especially difficult to know how to solve. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating when our loved one lashes out, suffers a meltdown, or becomes paranoid – and most people will try anything to keep these mood swings at bay.

Mood swings occur, in part, because patients do not have a grip on their surroundings, and become panicked, confused, and disoriented. They are exacerbated when people react in harsh, angry, or frustrated manners, and can usually be calmed when people react in a soothing, understanding tone.

By playing meaningful, thoughtfully chosen music for a patient, their grip on reality becomes that much clearer, their stress that much more decreased, and their mood swings less frequent. When a person feels safe, calmed, and soothed, they are less likely to act out – because their mood is increased, their sense of security is increased, and their quality of life is improved. 

It’s not just the patients who benefit from music. Music can help caregivers, too. Playing music helps a caregiver to connect with his or her patient in a more meaningful way. Songs that illicit memory will help a caregiver to learn more about their patient. Songs that make a patient dance give the caregiver an opportunity to connect with a patient through touch and laughter. Additionally, just like music decreases the stress and anxiety of patients, it does the same for the caregiver.

Caregivers deal with enormous amounts of stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression or even poor physical health. Music creates a sense of calm and escape for the caregiver – so they can feel relaxed and at peace while they’re helping their loved one. In this way, music is a form of self-care – which is enormously beneficial for caregivers.

How do you implement music into your loved one’s life? Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as blasting whatever you want when your loved one is around. Songs need to be carefully selected to fit your loved one’s personality – and the wrong music could make them feel more stressed or anxious.

So, when choosing a playlist for your loved one, think about their preferences. What song did your parent used to play again and again? What music might evoke memories for them – from happier, more peaceful times? If you aren’t sure, talk to other friends and family who might have an idea – and you can even look through your parents’ own music collection to see what they like to listen to.

You can choose music that aligns to the time of day and the mood of the situation. Soothing music is great for meals and baths, upbeat music is wonderful when you want your loved one to feel happy and uplifted.

Avoid playing other sounds when music is playing. Overstimulation can lead to headaches, stress, and confusion. So when it’s music time, make sure the TV is turned off, windows and doors are shut, and other distractions are out of the way. Don’t overdo the volume, but make sure it’s loud enough for your loved one to hear. Mayo Clinic suggests playing music that won’t be interrupted with commercials. Commercials can interrupt the mood and cause confusion and disorientation.

In addition, look for songs that encourage movement. If a song has a beat to clap to or even dance with, that’s fantastic. You can even start dancing first, to encourage your loved one to follow. In addition to dancing, feel free to sing along to the music. Your loved one just might sing along with you – which can help stimulate memories and strengthen the brain.

If your loved one is reacting negatively to a song, change it. Remember – music is meant to have a positive, calming effect – so you want to make sure it’s doing just that. Otherwise, mood swings and agitated moods, headaches and exhaustion, might be to come. On the contrary, if your loved one reacts happily and positively to a certain song – play it often! Never be afraid to repeat the same song again and again, as long as your loved one seems to be benefitting from it.

In addition to playing your own music for your loved one, consider music therapy or even instrument or singing lessons (depending on the severity of your loved one’s disease). A music therapist is trained to help their patients strengthen emotion, cognitive abilities, thoughts, and memories. They will use music to enrich and stimulate, to help with focus and stability. Music therapists will also have plans in place for the different stages of Alzheimer’s – and know what methods will be the most beneficial for each stage.

Music lessons and singing lessons can be hugely beneficial, too. Playing an instrument stimulates the brain enormously – and at the same time, lessons can provide social engagement for patients, which can help increase a patient’s quality of life.

Playing an instrument engages motor skills, listening, visual characteristics, and attention. The brain has to communicate with the hands while they play an instrument, while also being stimulated by the music itself. It’s an incredibly beneficial cognitive experience.  

There are plenty of music lessons designed for people with memory problems, including Alzheimer’s. Check out your local listings to see if there are Alzheimer’s music or singing classes in your loved one’s area.

Music is not a guaranteed treatment for people with Alzheimer’s. Some respond to it more than others, and unfortunately, there’s no way to know how it will affect your loved one until you give it a try. Time and again, though, research has shown positive reactions to music, and it’s one treatment plan that is well worth the effort.

Other creative activities, such as art, can also help Alzheimer’s patients with their stimulation and quality of life. Creativity is a meaningful way to engage with parts of the brain that benefit from stimulation – so the more you can help your loved one engage with, the better. Many people choose to enroll their loved ones in music and art therapy, or else they implement both practices themselves at home.

While music is not a guaranteed solution, it can work wonders on patients with Alzheimer’s – and their caregivers. The more you can do to increase quality of life and reduce stress, the better. Music can help people with Alzheimer’s find meaning, security, and a great sense of peace.

We want to thank you for joining us here at All Home Care Matters, All Home Care Matters is here for you and to help families as they navigate long-term care issues. Please visit us at allhomecarematters.com there is a private secure fillable form there where you can give us feedback, show ideas, or if you have questions. Every form is read and responded to. If you know someone is who could benefit from this episode, please share it with them.

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