The "Alzheimer's Is Getting A Bit Too Close" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story that was posted in my Sunday newspaper that was titled "Using Music For Alzheimer's Patients."  The more I read the more I became worried that I fit a bit too closely into the many patterns that they were describing about Alzheimers disease.  The disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away and die.  It is the most common cause of dementia which is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily function.  Wow!  Talk about scary!  There are about 5.8 million people in the U.S. that are living with Alzheimer's disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  And what is ever more scary is the fact that they project that number to triple to 14 million people by 2060.  Now, I release that I'll never make it to 2060, but just to realize how fast it is growing is enough to worry just about anyone my age.  Memory loss is the key symptom of Alzheimer's disease.  As the disease progresses, memory impairment persists and worsens, affecting the ability to function at work or at home.  But, as I read a bit more I found that musical memory isn't affected as much since key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease.  Therefore, listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.  Music can also benefit caregivers by lightening the mood and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease, especially those who have difficulty communicating.  A few tips on how to use music to help a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease are: (1) Think about your loved one's preferences as to the kind of music they enjoy and what type of music evokes memories of happy times in their life. (2) Calm your loved one during mealtime by playing music or singing a song that's soothing, upbeat or fast paced. (3) Avoid playing music with the TV turned on.  Also, choose music that isn't interrupted by TV commercials which can cause confusion. (4) Encourage movement which can help clap along or even dancing to the beat of the music. (5) Singing along to the music together can boost the mood and enhance your relationship.  (6) And finally, pay attention to your loved one's response.  If your loved one seems to enjoy particular songs, play them often and forget playing songs they react negatively to while listening.  These 6 ideas may be a good way to allow you to help your loved one with their Alzheimer's disease.  It was another extraordinary in the life of an ordinary guy.