Music has long been known as the universal language. Everyone from little babies to the oldest of the old can appreciate, engage and react to music, whether listening to a live concert, hearing a favorite song on the radio or participating in creating it themselves. Music therapy has been proven to be highly successful for a variety of fields, including treatment for those with dementia. How is it that a particular group of sounds can have such an effect on us?
“Neuroscience is continually expanding our understanding of how the brain works, and they’re learning more and more about how music can change, engage and even repair the brain,” says Beth Vellante, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover, a memory care assisted living community in Andover, MA. “Music and rhythm are tied to a deep, almost primal part of us that allows us to connect with each other in a very unique way.
“At Bridges by EPOCH, we’ve seen many positive effects that music therapy has on those experiencing memory loss. Our proprietary music therapy program, Melody Connections, helps develop individualized musical therapy for residents with dementia. Together with family members, we create personalized playlists and provide iPods and headphones that allow our residents to listen to the music they once loved. These familiar tunes can help unlock memories that have not been lost to the disease, and can bring them to the front so residents and their families can engage and create meaningful moments together.”
How Music Affects the Brain
Emotional
It’s no secret that music can trigger our emotions in many ways. Think of your own life: have you ever cried when listening to a sad or particularly moving piece of music? Has it ever made you laugh or think? What about if you’ve performed the music yourself, or experienced it with someone you care about? Research has shown that music can actually cause our brain neurons to fire and cause these emotions to occur – as well as chemical changes to take place. Listening to music can release hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine in your brain, which can cause a bonding experience as well as a reward/pleasure sensation. So while we may feel as if we hear music with our heart, we process it – and benefit from it – in our brains.
“We’ve seen residents go through a range of emotions when music that’s meaningful to them was played,” says Beth. “Music can help bridge the gaps that memory loss creates to evoke deep emotion, process feelings we may not be able to recognize or control and lift us up.”
Mental
Alongside emotional state, the mental state and brain health of individuals can change drastically thanks to music. For example, there’s been a lot of research done on how music therapy can help improve brain health and regain memories. A 2009 study found that our brains can link memories and music together to evoke meaningful moments. It also helps reduce stress, lift our moods and alleviate depression and improve mental alertness.
Physical
We used to think that when our brain cells were damaged, they were damaged forever. Not so, says science. The phenomenon of neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to create new pathways when it’s been damaged) allows our brains to repair themselves … and music is one of the stimuli that works best. It literally helps our brains rewire themselves to find new avenues to memories and function. Even in cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s or other dementia, triggering neuroplasticity can help maintain function and reduce mental decline to a point.
Using Music and Rhythm to Increase Brain Health
Whether you’re a healthy adult with a fully functioning brain, or you have a loved one who’s experiencing a dementia journey, Beth says that music therapy can help you create a happier, calmer and more meaningful life as well as strengthen your relationship with your loved one.
“There are two different types of music therapy that we integrate into our care plans at Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover,” she says. “Each type has different benefits, and can be used to accomplish different goals.”
Passive therapy involves playing familiar, favorite music to individuals in order to attain a particular goal. At Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover, our staff will work with you and your family to help find the right music to create a high quality of life for your loved one, such as reducing the incidence of disruptive behaviors, help maintain cognitive abilities or simply to make your loved one happy. Passive music therapy can be accomplished through listening to recorded or live music. It’s considered “passive” because the participant doesn’t have to “do” anything – simply listen.
Alternately, active therapy provides individuals with opportunities to create music on their own. This could be singing along with music or playing along using instruments (and we use that word loosely – it could be anything from pianos to guitars to makeshift drums or even clapping hands). Active therapy involves some sort of interaction with the music to heighten the experience. Individuals can dance, sing, drum along to the beat and whatever else they can think of. This leads to increased physical health, better emotional states, a higher quality of well-being, lower stress … the list of benefits goes on and on.
Engaging Lifestyle.
Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover provides memory care in an assisted living environment that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Built solely to care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover creates a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and respects individual preferences. Our memory care teams receive specialized training that helps them safely support residents’ independence and elevate their self-esteem.
Dedicated Memory Care
Through early-, mid- and late-stage memory loss, residents and their families have complete peace of mind. Our compassionate dementia care, Personalized Services and unique programs are tailored to meet the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of each resident wherever they are on their own journey, allowing them to age in place safely, comfortably and with respect.
Supportive, Purpose-Built Design.
Featuring a stunning residential design and the amenities of a new community, Bridges® by EPOCH at Andover is much more than a beautiful place to live; it’s a community where residents’ lives are enriched, and their families enjoy meaningful moments together. Our research-based design features soft colors and lighting, directional cues, aromatherapy and interactive life-enrichment stations that empower residents to explore their homes with confidence.
Contact us today to learn more.