Cue the Music: The Proven Benefits of Music for People Living with Dementia

Hello Alzheimer’s host Karla Hult talks with Andrea Leap, a “Music for Life” teacher at MacPhail Center for Music and Ann Schrempp, the Dimensions Program Coordinator at Ebenezer Foundation (which runs communities for aging adults in several states). The trio discuss how a partnership between MacPhail and Ebenezer represents a musical mission. More specifically, Ann and Andrea share about the emotional, practical and, yes, cognitive benefits of bringing music into the lives of aging adults. To learn more about the MacPhail Music for Life program click here. You can also learn more about Ebenezer’s Dimensions Memory Care program here. As mentioned, Northwestern Medicine published an article on the benefits of music on people living with dementia in July 2022. The Pacific Neuroscience Institute shared similar findings in a September 2023 report. And of course, the Alzheimer’s Association offers an excellent and practical overview of how to unlock the benefits of music during the dementia marathon. As always, please reach out with questions or suggestions for future conversations. Please also consider leaving a review on “Hello Alzheimer’s” – we are grateful for your support. And above all, please remember you’re not alone. *Support for this episode comes from Starkey. The team behind Starkey continues to help all of us hear better, live better -- and now more than ever -- through the new Omega AI, the most advanced hearing technology to date. Omega AI hearing aids can transform the listening experience for people worldwide given its improved sound quality, hardware durability and tools to protect our overall health – helping people connect to the world around them. Please go to Starkey.com to learn more about how you, too, can hear better, live better.