AL L EG RA HE I N , B E TA P S I , I N D I A N A P O L I S A LU M N I
In Perfect
Harmony Engaging individuals with dementia through music therapy and the Great American Songbook
rowing up in a family of professional musicians, I had early exposure to the benefits of music performance, listening and participation. As a pianist, I learned how to engage in preferred music as a means of personal emotional expression and well-being. However, it was not until I started studying music therapy that I began to learn the true potential impact of music on health. Did you know board-certified music therapists can use music to rehabilitate speech after a stroke, improve gait, decrease pain and anxiety and much more? I certainly did not know that, even though I had been surrounded by music my entire life. The power of music is truly incredible. From birth to death, most individuals develop a personal connection with music and associate various songs or artists with life events. This is particularly true for individuals with dementia, as musical memories are recalled more vividly than nonmusical memories. Music encourages individual growth, expression, reminiscence and connection that lasts a lifetime. More than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory and other cognitive abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60-80% of cases. Other forms of dementia include: Lewy body, 10 MuPhiEpsilon.org
vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia (from more than one cause) and other dementias related to Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease. These progressive diseases involve multiple stages of decline which often require an increase in care for the individual. Receiving a dementia diagnosis is extremely difficult, both for the individual and for their families and loved ones. The progression of these diseases is such that in the mid to late stages, individuals will decline significantly in mobility and cognition. For the individual, this often results in loss of independence and verbal communication and sometimes causes the individual to experience agitating behaviors. For families and loved ones, these stages create new challenges when navigating how to care for and interact with their loved one. There is no cure for dementia-related diseases. Current pharmaceutical treatments target only symptoms of the disease and often cause the individual to experience severe side effects. Considering these challenges, focus has shifted in recent years to more holistic approaches to care. Music therapy is one such approach and offers the individual and their care partners the opportunity to stay connected throughout disease progression. During the early 20th century, musicians, physicians and psychiatrists began to observe potential health benefits of music in a variety of settings. In the 1950s, while focusing on physical and psychological care of World War II veterans, the music
