This delightful 97 year old lady loves to move to music, loves music of the '20s and beyond. "The Charleston" is one of her favorites. Unfortunately, her disease process has robbed her of speech so we worked on helping her to communicate through use of instruments. Since she is wheelchair-bound, we also worked on giving her opportunities to increase range of motion through movement to her favorite songs.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine revealed that music therapy leads to increased secretion levels of "feel-good" brain chemicals, including melatonin, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and prolactin in Alzheimer’s patients. The results are manifold: music can boost mood, reduce stress and agitation, foster positive social interactions, coordinate motor function, and even facilitate cognition.

How? Even as the disease progresses and cognitive function declines, the human brain still naturally responds to music. And the benefits continue long after the music stops playing. Music has the unique ability to evoke memories and emotions from long ago. Choose favorite songs or musical styles from your loved one's formative years -- teens to mid-20s are ideal -- to elicit the most engaged response.

For adults in advanced stages of dementia, reaching further back in time may be an effective technique. Songs learned in childhood -- particularly when listened to in your loved one's native language -- may trigger a more significant response.

Music can also be used to foster a particular mindset or mood. For example, "fast" music may encourage movement while "slow" songs can have a sedative effect. In partnership with daily activities, the right background music can guide behaviors and responses.

Unfamiliar music can also play a vital role in music therapy. New songs can be used to develop beneficial responses, such as sleep enhancement and stress management. Music can also be used during exercise and physical therapy sessions to help promote balance and concentration. When individuals with advanced dementia become frustrated or overwhelmed by the inability to communicate and/or environmental stimuli, music continues to be a valuable tool. Gentle music can help calm agitation and refocus negative behaviors into positive activity.