It’s no secret that certain songs and tunes can influence your mood, which is why many physicians recommend it as part of an Alzheimer’s care plan. Although there is no cure for the disease, music therapy has proved to be effective medicine due to its effect on the brain and overall wellbeing. Here are a few benefits of listening to sweet sounds with your loved one.

Why Does Music Improve Alzheimer’s Care?

1. Triggers Emotions & Memories

Music helps anyone — even those with memory loss — remember times, places, events, and emotions. For instance, if your loved one hears a classic song like Piano Man, they may remember the first time they saw Billy Joel in concert. Music memory is often preserved in Alzheimer’s patients, despite the disease progressing in other parts of the brain, because singing, humming, and keeping a beat involve different cognitive functions.

2. Releases Dopamine

Listening to favorite songs releases dopamine, a type of feel-good hormone, into the brain. The pleasurable feelings that result help combat Alzheimer’s-related stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition to improving moods, music has been shown to decrease boredom and foster positive engagements with you, other family members and friends, and caregivers. Since the later stages of Alzheimer’s can cause patients to become distant, music is a way to encourage affection. This creates a healthier, more harmonious environment for everyone involved in your loved one’s Alzheimer’s care.

3. Encourages Physical Activity

For many people, music inspires movement, whether it’s dancing, tapping your foot, or clapping. Not only can this help with balance and overall health, but physical activity also floods the brain with more feel-good chemicals, including endorphins and serotonin. Additionally, dancing promotes physical closeness, which can help your loved one feel safe and secure.
 

Discuss music as part of your loved one’s Alzheimer’s care with the team at Total Life Care. Featuring locations in Sanford and Dunn, NC, this locally owned in-home care provider emphasizes companionship in addition to providing services such as medication reminders and transportation to doctor’s appointments. Learn more about their Alzheimer’s care services online, or call (919) 776-0352 to speak to a staff member today.