"As a family, we didn't know what to do when our father was diagnosed with this Alzheimer's disease. We have been through so many stages and now he seems to just be deteriorating to nothing. However, the music seems to have brought back some of his brain to him!"

Alzheimer's Reading Room

I’ve heard tales of patients who are able to sing songs they learned decades ago or use music to remember times of their lives that were otherwise lost, beautiful anecdotes about parents or grandparents that were once avid musicians and who, despite an inability to dress themselves or perform other basic activities of daily life, are still able to play songs on the piano or violin with ease.

My sister and I decided to try using music with [our father] to see if it would help us in any way, mostly because he has always loved music. We were much surprised when we put 1940s music (Dad's favorite type of music) on and Dad was able to remember the artists and names of songs, as well as lyrics to the music, for approximately 90% of the songs that were played. But even more surprising, while the music was playing, he was able to form complete sentences that actually fit together and have a conversation that was completely coherent.



He was also able to remember things that he had not remembered for quite some time. He was so happy during that time and during the days after the visit, so we decided to try it again. My niece took my Dad's cat to visit him and played music for him. While the music was playing, he was able to remember his cat's name, as well as my niece's name, and have a good coherent conversation with her. We were completely surprised at this, as he had fallen the day before and broke his hip. The following day, he was able to tell me when I visited him that my niece had come to see him and had brought his cat, including remembering my niece's name and his cat's name. I was completely amazed!

Alzheimer's Reading Room

The Neuroscience of Music

Music Activates Brain in Alzheimer’s Patients

Music Boosts Memory in Alzheimer’s, Is this Why the Poop Song Works

“As a family, we didn't know what to do when our father was diagnosed with this horrible disease. We have been through so many stages and now he seems to just be deteriorating to nothing. However, the music seems to have brought back some of his brain to him!”

Care of Dementia Patients

How to talk with someone who has dementia

Listening to a Person with Alzheimer's

Did you know the Alzheimer's Reading Room contains more than 5,000 articles and has been published daily since July, 2009? The website is designed to help caregivers deal with the problems they face each day.

https://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/05/power-of-music-in-alzheimers-disease.html