Music Therapy holds a promise for those who are affected by age-related disorders like Alzheimer`s , Perkinson`s and Dementia. The Music Therapy is an effective cure not only for memory loss but also for the people who have movement disorder.
Research reveals that Parkinson`s patients after the music therapy regained some ability to organize and perform movements that were lost because of the disease. There was certain selected music that evoked such results. The music must be rhythmic and powerful to assist them in movement of their body and limbs. While selecting the music, the therapists normally go for the familiar music to the patients, based on their personal taste and preference. Normally the music therapists become aware of the patients` likings and disliking before they go for music therapy and choosing appropriate music dose for them.
Recent researches has found that the rule of music therapy might vary with the patients of dementia as they might develop new tastes and choices, which may be unmatched and unexpected compared to their original tastes and this arise all on a sudden.
Dementia is characterized by loss of reasoning abilities, language skill and memory and there is no reason for the sudden transformation of the patients. It is often found that patients of dementia start liking the music, which they once used to hate at their young ages.
According to the doctors this change in behavior could be due to various reasons. The first reason might be the change in one`s attitude toward novelty at their old age. Secondly in such patients, certain portion of the brain could be damaged affecting their perception in pitch, timbre, rhythm and acquaintance. Another study reveals that dementia can bring out artistic talents in people who never had them before. This artistic talent includes music and drawing, which flourish while the dementia worsened. With the help of a therapist the dementia affected artistic nature can be encouraged to learn and play musical instrument.
While treating Dementia patients by music therapy, caution should be taken as certain types of music can cause agitation in them. Music can arouse both positive and negative memories. The therapist`s endeavor should be to play such music that can bring positive results in such patients. So to cure the patients of dementia through music therapy needs close observation by the therapists.
