In a new podcast, MNT investigates how sounds, silence, and music affect our cognitive health, and whether music can be a powerful tool for treating dementia.
 In Conversation: Investigating the power of music for dementia | Have you ever wondered how someone with dementia can forget their loved ones' names but recall complex pieces of music? In a new podcast, Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, an assistant professor in music psychology, and Beatie Wolfe, a singer, songwriter, and ambassador for Music for Dementia, join Dr. Hilary Guite and MNT's Global News Editor Yasemin Sakay to share their insights on how music affects cognitive health and serves as a connector for those with dementia.
Music's benefits extend beyond entertainment. It can help improve cognitive function, increase the brain's neuroplasticity, and slow cognitive decline. For people with dementia, music can evoke memories and enhance their sense of identity. As Beatie Wolfe remarks, "When you have seen the responses I've seen to music, you have infinite respect and appreciation for it."
Interestingly, silence can also have a profound effect on our health. In the world's quietest room, Beatie Wolfe experienced a "sensory reset" where her nervous system calmed down, and she could hear sound in a pure way. This highlights the importance of balancing sound and silence in our lives.
Music's power to evoke memories is one of the key topics in the podcast. For people with dementia, recalling lyrics or playing an old song on an instrument appears related to procedural memory, which can still function even after semantic memory declines.
However, music therapy can have potential downsides, such as triggering traumatic memories or negative responses to specific types of music. That aside, music's power deserves further research, not least its potential effect on the progress of dementia.
This 40-minute podcast is available now on Spotify, Apple, and Stitcher, with more information, including extracts and links to further reading in the accompanying article,"Dementia: Does music have the power to unlock memories?"
Also this weekend, we know a good night's sleep is essential for health, but new research suggests a type of sleeping pill might help reduce levels of proteins in the brain related to Alzheimer's. We also look at why exercise can boost brain activity and cognitive function, and why avoiding fried food may help keep anxiety and depression at bay. Scientists have also discovered that stem cells losing the ability to move may explain gray hair, and potential treatments are in the works. Finally, a groundbreaking RNA-based nanodrug shows promising results in ovarian cancer, with an 80% survival rate in animals.
Our regular daily newsletter returns tomorrow. We'd love to hear from you in the meantime, so please send any feedback, comments, suggestions, or questions to the team by email.
Stay informed and stay healthy!
Tim Snaith
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