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i nt e rv i e w
Music Can Penetrate the Fog of
Alzheimer’s Disease
Can listening to music soothe an agitated patient with Alzheimer’s disease,
or even unlock happy memories from better days? Although much of the
evidence is anecdotal, there is plenty to suggest that songs can, at minimum,
bring a smile to the face of a dementia patient.
And that is good enough for Joshua Grill,
PhD, assistant professor of neurology and
director of the Katherine and Benjamin
Kagan Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Development Program at UCLA’s Mary
S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease
Research. Dr. Grill is on a campaign to
collect pre-owned iPods and MP3 players,
iTunes gift cards, headphones and related
items for Alzheimer’s patients in nursing
homes. The program is a partnership
between the Easton Center and the national
nonprofit organization Music & Memory,
which provides music therapy to nursing
homes in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Grill
discusses the evidence for music’s benefits
for dementia patients.
Joshua Grill, PhD
UCLAHEALTH.ORG 1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631)
How much is known about music’s
therapeutic potential for patients with
Alzheimer’s disease?
Studies have found that music has the ability
to uniquely activate the brain. One need
look no further than a child learning the
alphabet to see the power of musical melody
in learning. Music clearly affects the brain
differently from spoken word or a series of
tones that don’t form a melody, and studies
have even shown that it can activate pleasure
and reward centers in the brain. Specifically
thinking about music and dementia, there
are many anecdotal reports of Alzheimer’s
patients who are so amnestic they can’t
remember their own family members, yet
they retain the ability to recall, perform and,
perhaps most important, enjoy music. In fact,
one case report described a musician who
was well into the course of dementia and
could still learn new songs.
Given music’s power to evoke memories
in all of us, is it possible it could
have memory-related benefits for
dementia patients?
There are a few studies to support music as a
strategy to improve memory in patients with
amnestic disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
One study suggested mild cognitive benefits
in patients in a nursing home after group
music therapy, including improved memory
function. Another small study suggested
that mild patients who listened to Vivaldi’s
i nt e rv i e w
Music Can Penetrate the Fog of
Alzheimer’s Disease
Can listening to music soothe an agitated patient with Alzheimer’s disease,
or even unlock happy memories from better days? Although much of the
evidence is anecdotal, there is plenty to suggest that songs can, at minimum,
bring a smile to the face of a dementia patient.
And that is good enough for Joshua Grill, How much is known about music’s perhaps most important, enjoy music. In fact,
PhD, assistant professor of neurology and therapeutic potential for patients with one case report described a musician who
director of the Katherine and Benjamin Alzheimer’s disease? was well into the course of dementia and
Kagan Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment Studies have found that music has the ability could still learn new songs.
Development Program at UCLA’s Mary to uniquely activate the brain. One need Given music’s power to evoke memories
S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease look no further than a child learning the in all of us, is it possible it could
Research. Dr. Grill is on a campaign to alphabet to see the power of musical melody have memory-related benefits for
collect pre-owned iPods and MP3 players, in learning. Music clearly affects the brain dementia patients?
iTunes gift cards, headphones and related differently from spoken word or a series of
items for Alzheimer’s patients in nursing There are a few studies to support music as a
tones that don’t form a melody, and studies
homes. The program is a partnership strategy to improve memory in patients with
have even shown that it can activate pleasure
between the Easton Center and the national amnestic disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
and reward centers in the brain. Specifically
nonprofit organization Music & Memory, One study suggested mild cognitive benefits
thinking about music and dementia, there
which provides music therapy to nursing in patients in a nursing home after group
are many anecdotal reports of Alzheimer’s
homes in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Grill music therapy, including improved memory
patients who are so amnestic they can’t
discusses the evidence for music’s benefits function. Another small study suggested
remember their own family members, yet
for dementia patients. that mild patients who listened to Vivaldi’s
they retain the ability to recall, perform and,
Joshua Grill, PhD
UCLAHEALTH.ORG 1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631)
i nt e rv i e w
Music Can Penetrate the Fog of
Alzheimer’s Disease
Can listening to music soothe an agitated patient with Alzheimer’s disease,
or even unlock happy memories from better days? Although much of the
evidence is anecdotal, there is plenty to suggest that songs can, at minimum,
bring a smile to the face of a dementia patient.
And that is good enough for Joshua Grill,
PhD, assistant professor of neurology and
director of the Katherine and Benjamin
Kagan Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Development Program at UCLA’s Mary
S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease
Research. Dr. Grill is on a campaign to
collect pre-owned iPods and MP3 players,
iTunes gift cards, headphones and related
items for Alzheimer’s patients in nursing
homes. The program is a partnership
between the Easton Center and the national
nonprofit organization Music & Memory,
which provides music therapy to nursing
homes in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Grill
discusses the evidence for music’s benefits
for dementia patients.
Joshua Grill, PhD
UCLAHEALTH.ORG 1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631)
How much is known about music’s
therapeutic potential for patients with
Alzheimer’s disease?
Studies have found that music has the ability
to uniquely activate the brain. One need
look no further than a child learning the
alphabet to see the power of musical melody
in learning. Music clearly affects the brain
differently from spoken word or a series of
tones that don’t form a melody, and studies
have even shown that it can activate pleasure
and reward centers in the brain. Specifically
thinking about music and dementia, there
are many anecdotal reports of Alzheimer’s
patients who are so amnestic they can’t
remember their own family members, yet
they retain the ability to recall, perform and,
perhaps most important, enjoy music. In fact,
one case report described a musician who
was well into the course of dementia and
could still learn new songs.
Given music’s power to evoke memories
in all of us, is it possible it could
have memory-related benefits for
dementia patients?
There are a few studies to support music as a
strategy to improve memory in patients with
amnestic disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.
One study suggested mild cognitive benefits
in patients in a nursing home after group
music therapy, including improved memory
function. Another small study suggested
that mild patients who listened to Vivaldi’s