A number of years ago I wrote about how playing music from the time period when an Alzheimer’s patient was younger can enable them to suddenly come alive and sing along with the music.

Tony Bennett is a great example. He has severe Alzheimer’s until you start playing his songs and he starts signing them like he always has.

We now know more about what’s going on and what the effect of music is on the person, so I want to update you on the latest information.

At the University of California, Irvine, researchers found that listening to Mozart helped improve the patients scores on a memory test. They had 49 patients participate 3 times a week for 10 months in a music-based reminiscence program. The researchers found it boosted their scores on cognitive function tests by 50%. One patient after just several sessions even recognized his wife for the first time in many months.

Many of the patients are able to remember the words to a favorite song and even recapture lost memories. Sometimes the therapist will stop singing and the patient will fill in the words. Some of them are even able to learn new songs.

The music that works best is from the person’s teen years into their early 20s.

Playing music affects the patients in a number of ways by:

Improving memory and cognitive skills

Increasing attention, motivation, focus and awareness of self and others

Reducing agitation

Improving performance of daily activities such as eating, toileting and bathing

You can even get a free guide on “How to Create a Personalized Music Playlist for a Loved One at Home” at the website www.MusicAndMemory.org/resources.

So…for an enchanted evening with a loved one you might play “Some Enchanted Evening”, if that was popular when they were younger.
(Reported Bottom Line Books, Breakthroughs for Beating Alzheimer’s)