As the largest resource of information specific to women's brain health, we are sure you will find what you are looking for, and promise that you will discover new information.
Published on: April 12, 2012
by Paula Spencer Scott for caring.com
If you’re looking for a new way to enrich the life of your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia — one that can soothe anxiety, magnify pleasure, pass the time meaningfully, and perhaps even spark glimpses of the person he or she used to be — consider programing an iPod.
The power of music to do all these things for those with dementia is illustrated in an inspiring new documentary called “Alive Inside,” about Music & Memory, a nonprofit organization that brings iPods to people with dementia in nursing homes.
Music Therapy is increasingly used to improve the lives of those with Alzheimer’s. The twist of Music & Memory is to use iPods and headphones, customizing playlists for the style and era of music that the patient loves.
“When I end up in a nursing home, I’ll want to have my music with me,” Dan Cohen, executive director of Music & Memory, told ABC News. “There aren’t many things in nursing homes that are personally meaningful activities. Here’s the one easy thing that has a significant impact.”
The documentary profiles the amazing effect the customized iPods have on seven nursing-home residents. “They’re more alert, more attentive, more cooperative, more engaged,” Cohen says. “Even if they can’t recognize loved ones and they’ve stopped speaking, they hear music and they come alive.”
Neurologist Oliver Sacks is interviewed in the film about how the damaged brain can nevertheless respond to music.
Cohen’s charity accepts new and used iPods and distributes them to nursing homes. In the excerpt on the ABC News site, it’s pointed out that many patients’ daily medication bills exceed the cost of a small music device.
The idea, of course, can also be easily adapted by family caregivers for their loved ones at home. Figure out which music is most effective for your loved one, thinking creatively about the kind of music to include. Download a great selection. Then plug in, mellow out (or rock out!), and watch your loved one enjoy.
Source: http://www.caring.com/blogs/fyi-daily/the-wow-power-of-music-for-people-with-alzheimers
Sexual intimacy in women has been linked with longer telomeres — a trait associated with slower cellular aging, improved overall health, and even increased lifespan. The finding adds to a growing body of research on the importance of regular...
A new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that measures of amyloid beta in the blood have the potential to help identify people with altered levels of...
It’s no secret that if you want to keep your mind sharp, it’s worth making some time to workout. Yes, exercise won’t only give you a sexy body. It’ll help get you a sexy brain as well....
The material presented through the Think Tank feature on this website is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. WBHI strongly advises all questioners and viewers using this feature with health problems to consult a qualified physician, especially before starting any treatment. The materials provided on this website cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. The materials are not exhaustive and cannot always respect all the most recent research in all areas of medicine.
