Musical Memories in Alzheimer’s Patients

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease erases the past and damages the present and the future. Those who suffer the nightmare of forgetting the life they lived and the people who surround them, experience sheer confusion, frustration, and agitation. The development of learned helplessness creates a dark future for those struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. There may be one thing that could ground these patients even after severe loss of cognitive function: music. Recent studies have revealed the ability of the brain in Alzheimer’s patients to recall musical memories, which led to further investigation of the positive cognitive and emotional effects of music therapy for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.