Abstract
According to a recent study, Alzheimer’s disease prevalence currently stands at 25.4 million. In addition, at least 3.4 million new cases are reported every year. In every twenty years, this number is said to double. Type AD (Alzheimer’s dementia) is the most common type of this disease. Inopportunely, in 25.4 million people diagnosed yearly, only half of this number receives treatment. Anxiety and depression are the main effects of Alzheimer disease. For a long time now, the importance and prospective effects of music therapy in the treatment of minor cases of Alzheimer’s disease has been known. This therapy can either be receptive therapy (listening-based or active therapy (playing-based). Music therapy, just like relaxation and hypnosis, is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, among many other disorders. This paper will show how personalized music could stimulate the memory of Alzheimer patients. The study will show how music therapy promotes memory by inducing emotional responses, and thus helping in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, to a large degree (Pickettcooper 82).
Introduction
Alzheimer’s is a condition of the brain. This condition constitutes one of the top ten degenerative diseases affecting the elderly, especially those over the age of 60 years. The actual cause of the condition is still under the research, but several risk factors have being associated with Alzheimer’s. These includes the head injury, low level of formal education, down syndrome, mind memory impartment, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, sex, Apo E gene. The fact that the incidence and prevalence of the Alzheimer’s is increasing and becoming a community issue, at an alarming rate has prompted the need for development of systematic model that can help in management and prevention of the condition. According to several studies, music therapy shows a significant role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this paper will be to evaluate the effect of music therapy on people with Alzheimer’s (Pickettcooper 73).
Discussion
Music Therapy can be defined as evidence based and a clinical use of music intercessions to realize individualized goals within a therapeutic correlation by a credentialed specialized. For someone to be a music therapist, he or she must have completed an approved program of music therapy. In the recent past, people have realized that music therapy can be designed to promote communication, manage stress, enhance memory, alleviate pain and provide opportunities for interaction (Ansdell 34).
For people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, their body’s functions get worse as the brain’s functions declines. The five senses are the most affected, but hearing sense is usually the first to go. However, before the hearing sense shuts down, music therapy can be a treasured therapeutic tool that could help in promoting interactive communication. According to researcher Ansdell, in his study on "The Impact of Music Therapy on Language Functioning in Dementia," many patients showed significant improvements in fluency and speech content after several sessions of music therapy. In another study, researchers reported proven benefits of music therapy to Alzheimer’s patients. Accordingly to Ansdell, there is a substantial improvement of Alzheimer patients on the aspects such as behavior (including behavioral problems and reduced agitation), cognitive functions, and social skills. However, music therapy may not be remedial of dementia and Alzheimer’s, but the use of music therapy has resulted to helpful effects on Alzheimer’s and dementia. In turn, these benefits enhance the quality of life for both the caregivers and the patient.
A recent study as confirmed that a positive, well-established effects of music therapy could be very helpful to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The study showed how patients with moderate and mild symptoms Alzheimer can subsidy from music therapy by allowing them choose the type of music want to listen. The approach might seem so simple, but it resulted to significant decreases of depression and anxiety in patients.
For many years now, music is known for unruffled people and providing them with relief from their tension and stress. For instance, there is a recent study that was done by researchers in Miami University on how music therapy affects excretion levels of five brain chemicals in Alzheimer’s patients (Brotons 22). Some of the chemicals that are secreted by the brain comprise of melatonin, prolactin, epinephrine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. This study was done after it was discovered that Music therapy could be a useful therapeutic intervention that might promote cooperative communication. The program was carried foe one month, and after this period of time, the team found out some astonishing findings. According to the results of the study, it was evident that music therapy can lead to augmented secretion levels of melatonin hormone. This is the hormone that is allied with mood regulation. The hormone also lower aggression enhances sleep and reduces depression (Brotons 32). The study exhibited that, higher melatonin levels could persist even several weeks after music therapy sessions. The study also discovered that, secretions of norepinephrine and epinephrine can rise instantaneously after music therapy sessions. However, this does not remain for long after the music therapy sessions has ceased. The findings also showed that music therapy does not influence secretions of prolactin and serotonin (Brotons 45).
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are enriching benefits that can be conveyed by music therapy. This association has for a long time now, advocated the benefits that Alzheimer’s patients can get from music therapy. Music therapy is said to stir long-term memories. It has also been noted that, best results are mainly obtained from popular music during patient’s youth. It is also important to note that, different patients respond well depending on the type of music (Brotons 67). For instance, some patients react well to instrumental hymns while others respond well to rhythm-and-blues. On the other hand, some patients even react well to spiritual songs. This is to mean that, for the current crop of the over 70s, music from Lawrence Welk and Glenn Miller could be invaluable. In addition, different Alzheimer patients have diverse ways of enjoying the music therapy. Some respond well when they sing along while others like clapping or swaying their hands when the music is playing. According to Brotons, music therapy sometimes stirs a desire to dance, which is considered therapeutic too. Brotons also argues that a patient’s delight is archetypally increased as they sing or move with the music. In some patients, looking at photographs could also stir memories (Brotons 76).
What is that in music that is helpful to people with Alzheimer’s disease?
The question that many people will ask themselves in concern to music therapy is “what is that in music that is helpful to people with Alzheimer’s disease”? First, there are several factors that are involved when answering this question. One thing that we all need to know is that listening to music can be one deep emotional process. This is known as an intuitive level, and according to a recent neuroimaging research, usually when one is listening to music the emotion centers in the brain. For example, the nucleus accumbens and amygdala are activated when one is listening to music. Secondly, music therapy increases attention to patient with Alzheimer’s. This is because patients with Alzheimer’s often develop an undecorated attention deficit that in turn creates a longer-lasting and stronger memory (Ansdell 12).
The third thing that is worth noting is that neuroimaging studies have proved that musical treating embroils a wide range of brain areas. Usually, music therapy uses a large part of the brain including the parts that minimally affected by the deteriorating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. This is mostly common when the Alzheimer is in its early stages. However, musical memory may as a result of the wide range of brain area be less hindered by Alzheimers when compared to nonmusical memory. The nonmusical memory relies only on ordinary memory areas like medial temporal lobes. According to many studies on Alzheimer diseases, the standard memory is the first part of the brain that is affected by the Alzheimer disease. In other words, this is to say that music therapy provides a form of “backup” memory. This back up memory is the one used by the Alzheimer’s patients in case their normal memory system fails (Ansdell 17).
In addition to the above mentioned points, it is also important to know that emotional strength of music therapy can be one very powerful tool that could help Alzheimer patients cope with the condition. According to Ansdell, numerous types of music therapy can improve the quality of life of Alzheimer patient including other types of dementia. He also argues that listening to music could simply improve an Alzheimer patient’s mood and their ability to recall historical memories. The same brain progressions parts that countenance music to act as an operative memory support are in charge for the doles of music therapy in Alzheimer care (Ansdell 23).
Kind of music
Despite the fact, that music therapy helps Alzheimer patients, not all music is therapeutic. Different patient have different kinds of music that helps them well. First, there are those patients who like live music when compared to other kinds of music. Live music is usually considered to be the most therapeutic melodic activity for those with Alzheimer. Live music should, therefore, be provided in a number of ways. For those Alzheimer Patients who are in the early stages of condition, can be taken to concerts that are playing the type of music they love (Aldridge 76).
Another group of Alzheimer patients do well with recorded music. According to researchers, this people find recorded music somewhat less engaging when compared to live music. This is because, unlike live music, recorded music provides visual stimulation when patients remember the history of music. This could be a good think because these patients are able to gain back their memory. However, listening to this music over and over and over again may result to boredom. It would be better if they listened to the recorder music when there are performers are present (Aldridge 78).
Background music is another kind of music that can be of usefulness to Alzheimer patients. According to a recent study, background music can calm and bring comfort to people with Alzheimer’s. It is recommended that background music should be played very softly, so as to not overstimulate the patient (Aldridge 87).
What Types of Music to Avoid
Music therapy could also be harmful to Alzheimer patients if the wrong music is played. There is some music that should be shunned to avoid over-stimulating the patient. Some kinds of music may make the Alzheimer person agitated. This includes loud music, dissonant music, or frenetic-sounding music (Aigen 47). In addition, other kinds of music such as sad music, sad music, love music, and other selections of music may connect patients to some specific sad experience of their past. Some of the bad experience that may be brought up by these kinds of music include funeral of a loved one’s (Aigen 56).
Work cited
Aigen, K. Echoes of silence. Music Therapy 9, 1, 44-61. 1990. Print
Aldridge, D. Music and Alzheimer’s’ disease - assessment and therapy: a discussion paper. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 86, 93-95. 1993. Print
Ansdell, G. Music for life. Aspects of creative music therapy with Alzheimer patients. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 1995. Print
Brotons, M, Koger, S. M and PickettCooper, P. Music and dementias: A review of the literature. Journal of Music Therapy 34, 4. 1997. Print 204-245.
Pickettcooper, P. K.The effects of music therapy intervention on agitation behaviors of Alzheimer's disease patients. Journal of Music Therapy 33, 1, 2-18. 1996. Print.
