Power Of Music On The Brain | Dementia & Parkinson's 

What songs would make your life playlist? Tell us your tracks and why below 👇

I did a paper on how music effects emotions on Dementia residents in 89 and I was laughed at. This was before computers.

in the 70's I nursed a 16yr lad who suffered a head injury and was semi-comatose. I played some popular music on a radio and nearly instantly, he was alert, looking for the source of the music, laughing and beginning to speak.

this needs to be in every nursing home and aftercare facility on earth. music should be considered a basic human right. for people like this who have completely forgotten themselves to be able to get back what they love about their lives.... that is so powerful. my grandmother had dementia many years ago and i wish i knew about this.

When the lady couldn’t remember who her son was, you can see she was somewhat embarrassed but the way the son said “That’s just life” made me ball my eyes out 😭🥺 We need a cure for this vicious illness too many people have their life ripped away from them because of their own brain

I am 65 and diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s ... fir now it is just my very short term memory ... I listen to music every every night and I know it helps💗

It has to be said. The second lady seems like such a joy

So your saying im going to have to bump Eminem as a 90 year old to remember my childhood, LETS GO!!

As my mother's Parkinson's progress she had a lot of difficulty speaking. Then, we got her a Music Therapist and my mom could sing!!!!!!!

This brought me to tears. I loaded an MP3 player with music from 1948 to 1952 for my Mother-in-Law that had dementia. She sang along with The Ames Brothers, Jo Stafford, Frankie Laine, and so on. I had fun just watching her memory of the songs coming back. I miss her so much.

Me when I'm 90 years old and they play me my music: "I DID MY TIME AND I WANT OUT!!" * pulls neck muscle in the process of headbanging *

"Music is the key to the soul"

Someone once told me that "I don't care what anyone says, if you don't like music, your a psychopath"

I guess i was ahead of the game...ive always played music for my patients...music from their day....always brought them to life. Sweetest thing ever

Music should be intrduced to infants immediately. Music should be part of education from pre K to the end of life.

One member of the sinking duo Jan and Dean had a car accident on dead man’s curve which was one of their songs and was in a coma for months. The other member of the duo brought in music and comedy movies to his hospital room and he finally came out of the coma. Music does amazing things.

As I watched this I couldn't stop crying,my dear wide was diagnosed with dementia in 2005 and I watched her at home until 2009 at which time she was placed in a "memory" care facility,she played piano,her father had a band and I never knew about music therapy,to visit and see her with her head down lost in her own world,and I could have made her journey so much better is heart breaking

How wonderful. Why are nursing homes every where not doing this? Heck with the last 2 months we all need this

wish i would've known this in the 8 years of alzheimers with my mother. I provided her favorite tv shows and could calm her, but nobody tried this.

Music is to me what oxygen is to others... When my darling Dad ended up in a coma (in 1998...), I brought a CD player to his hospital room. His face became peaceful, as soon as the first one of his favorite CD's started playing...

That lady at the end... Betty. The "emotionless" lady. Jesus christ keep giving her a daily dose of music cus she has such a wonderful smile! That cannot be kept from the world.

"It's a deeply grooved record to our memories and the people we have loved" Beautifully said.

We actually tried this with patients admitted in to the hospital and it really works

This sort of thing causes me to think that in this time of isolation and political chaos we all need more music. Make sure you watch the man with Parkinson's! It's awesome and incredible.

I’m not crying you all are crying 😭

I came into my 70th season in 2020, my mom lived into her 90's+, my grandmother was into her 90'+ season too. I'm not afraid to go home to see Jesus and my mother's. I will ask all my kids to play my favorite music to me if I'm not in my home. I can see how music brightens the mind's memories, thank you for the documentary. God bless you 😇's.

This is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! Keep doing studies into this, please!!! Such an interesting topic!

Some of my favorite quotes from his video: - "Music is a human right." - "It's like a side door into the brain." - "Music is absolutely pivotal in the course of human evolution."

I noticed this but I don’t know what it means ; look at how quickly, at about 2:10, John captures the tempo and the beat and starts to move, and flashes through the database and locates and loads the correct song, fast forward up to where the song is at the moment, gets the teeth of the “beat” gear or cog synchronized with the teeth of the playback cog, and the pitch oscillator tuned with the playback, and just drops himself in ...correct tempo, on the beat, singing the right words, AND AT THE CORRECT PITCH, within what, maybe 2-3 seconds of the first sound? That’s nothing short of astonishing. Much later, at about 27:00, Betty, who otherwise struck me as being more lucid in general than John. In this scenario, however, it appears to me that she takes a little longer in her recognition, struggles with words, assumes her own tempo, seems oblivious to the pitch, but decides it’s too high and drops her voice an octave. I would not be at all surprised to learn that even when in full command of her facilities, that while she could and would sing, it was always a bit dicey, and she had to really sustain effort and concentration to do it; and that John was well known for singing all the time, and was always able to sing along and with no training, sang well, had a good voice, and appeared to do it effortlessly, and clearly enjoyed it. What makes this so astonishing is that someone like John can have such a profound loss in some of his brain function, yet considering what has to be in place in order for him to be able to do what I described about him joining in so quickly, that all of that appears to be completely intact, existing and functioning right next to the part that is gone. It’s like, ‘this blob of gray jelly works, but this one doesn’t’ ... this is just an incomprehensible disparity to me.

Im making a playlist of music year by year. Maybe one will survive when im old. Maybe someone else will benefit from them. Yeah they might not be clean but they are of the time

I once worked with a nice women who had a stroke and had problems talking afterwards. Before she had the stroke she was a very good singer as I would later find out , very very talented. A few weeks in working with her ,her daughter put on her mothers CD and she started to sing along! It was such an emotional moment. We all cried :) Music is very very powerful and I hope we will use it more in Healthcare!

That was simply incredible.

my dad works at a nursing home and he used to sing for fun during breaks for the old people's entertainment. his manager granted him an official time during his shifts to sing old hits now because she believes music definitely helps with the soul.

my dad was diagnosed with dimentia/alziemers last month. that very moment when he had lost his memories i was singing his favorite song then he sings with me and began talking bout the way he used to share stories accurately and he was able to write few words. he is a music lover. he used to say that music is a form of therapy. he did proved it.

I'm a patient care tech in Glen Burnie, MD and I've been singing to my patients for years. I don't know their favorite songs but they seem to enjoy it. 😊

This is a very sweet video, and I enjoyed it. One note to caregivers, from one who's been there: Never ask a a person with dementia an open-ended question like, "who am I" or "do you remember this"? It causes distress and embarrassment, as in the woman who couldn't remember who her son was at 3:38. But what a great, informative video.

I have seen first hand the effect of music on those with dementia and it is astounding. The person literally comes to life and their recall vastly improves. I know that when my depression becomes unbearable, music is the one thing that helps me move forward.

You know what would be really great, is if they were able to somehow record smells, I'd love to be 90 years old and be able to smell grandma's cooking again, or the smell of the neighborhood as I walked to school on a cold, rainy day, or the smell of the fireplace on Christmas morning, or the smell of a fresh cut lawn, now only if someone could come up with an invention like that.

My grandfather has Parkinson's disease. It was his birthday on the 1st of September a couple of days ago. My father video called him and my grandfather could barely speak when he answered. Then we sang happy birthday and after we finished singing, he immediately said thank you without any struggle in his voice. He still managed to talk even more after the song. It shows how powerful music is, even if it's just singing happy birthday. Also, at my cousin's wedding in February, he actually stood up and danced a little bit, yet he could barely walk earlier that day.

This really confirmed what my late my mother said being careful about music.

Me and my boys in 60 years listening to Everywhere at the end of time stage 4

Music isnt Just Sounds...IT is Motion and Emotion

Oh jeez you’ve got me crying now

Music, just what the doctor should order for dementia patients AND comatose patients. My sister had an aneurysm & after her brain operation, doctors said after a month in a coma, that she would not wake up. It’s been too long so they want to send her to a rest home! Her 3rd son refused to send her & said, “my mom is walking out this hospital!” He brought to the Hosp a radio & his mom’s favorite music. He began playing her music, her eyes began to flutter & her feet began simulating “tapping” to the music. Doctor was called in but he said the reactions was automatic due to some stimuli we are not aware of. Then he left. The music continued to play then her eyes opened, her fingers were snapping to the music, & feet moving to the music. It works people! You don’t have to have dementia to test this. Change your day, play music you love, soothes the soul & lift the spirit! My sister walked out that hospital a few weeks later! Hallelujah!

In England there are weekly meetings in some areas called "Singing for the Brain" for dementia patients. People get together and have a sing song. Amazing how the words and melodies come back

I saw this when I was volunteering for a dementia charity that provided holidays for dementia sufferers and their carers. Once a week there was a music day and the music would immediately make them all more coherent and open up and talk more to everyone.

This is so wonderful :))))) I am in Canada, just completing a degree in sound therapy. The power of music is profound because we ARE music. Love that the science is coming out to show the world how this works! I plan to be working with Music and Memory in the new year!

gonna be 105 listening to my 2017 spotify summer rewind lit af XD

I need music in my life, I can't go 1 day without listening to it. Music brings me great joy, great memories, and nostalgia. If I'm ever in a home or somewhere I may not want to be, music would make me be able to excape.

'We cannot talk about music's impact on our brains without talking about movement'

I care for my Grandmother with dementia. It's amazing how some songs can just get her singing, laughing, and even dancing a little with her walker. It a beautiful moment when it happens so I try and play her favorite songs regularly.

I wish i had seen this a long time ago before my Mom died of Lewy body dementia.

If the nostalgia is great already from music we know from 10 years in the past. Imagine now, music from 60 years in the past, that u don’t actually listen to for decades. That must be a real powerful feeling of waking up memories !! Just pure goldy joy

Music is like a reset button for the brain...for the time they listen it reactivates the memory.

music is magic! its amazing that you can pick up the lyrics to a song 20 years after hearing it.

Me and the boys listening to gucci gang at age 90 to remember our childhood

What a brilliant documentary!! I am deeply moved and it should be acknowledged worldwide ....as well as be used worldwide in all the mentionned fields ( Dementis, severe brain injury, Parkinsons disease etc) ....it is wonderful !! I will create my own favorite memory music lost- just in case !! Thank you so much for posting this !

You don't listen to music, you feel it.

Beautiful thing that music unlocks memories long forgotten....

My dad was a very educated man, well read, and had been a lawyer, teacher, and a judge. He was ill and struggling mentally in his last years. He had great caretakers outside and inside the family. He would watch 2 musical shows over and over. Singin' in the rain and the wizard of oz. I just wish I knew how powerful music is so we could have played more diverse songs he liked. He was so smart he knew music was important even then. Miss him.

How wonderful that they find happiness even for a short time with the People they love.

For anyone involved in the treatment consider this, whilst the music brings memory up it may in fact be the soundwaves/frequencies stimulating nerves to area's of the brain that release various hormones/chemicals that reactivate cognitive functions. Each stimulus phase is then re-knitting memories together which then gives the client foundation blocks for self identification purposes recreating their persona. In turn it's helping them to re-gain confidence in themselves relaxing them as a result. Whilst not all aspects can be repaired it maybe enough to establish a strong enough foundation for them to manage everyday functionality. Please please trust me on this and look into this!!!!!

Amazing how art has such a long, deep relationship with people. Drawing, dancing, music has been with us as long as we have been a "us." Such a cool thing to know... 😌

That study on how oxytocin release is so much more when singing togethqr explains why people make such strong bonds in musical theatre and why people used to sing working songs together.

This is the most remarkable way to remember precious moments made in life. I recently watched a ballet dancer with dementia remember how she danced in Swan Lake apon hearing the music played in the production. Made me glad to have music exist in this world, and brought a few tears to my eyes.

Music makes a person happy💃💃👌😄

I always did that to my patients!!!! and its true they bring them back to life!!!!! in such beautiful way

Very interested look like it is important to do this especially in the nursing home

I would like to know how our brain reacts when we are in a restaurant, on our birthday, and suddenly the waiters/waitresses start coming over to your table singing happy birthday to you XD

My Mom is 76 and starting to develop dementia. She still lives home, and when I put on the TV station with the oldies music, even if she dozes off, she sings. And remembers things about the artists sometimes. And sometimes she just sings to herself, even dozing off. I've meant to do something like this for her if she ends up in a home.

I believe this is so awesome!!!!! GOD BLESS THEM....

7:13 that guy saying music is better than drugs is great because it's true music can let you travel thru times past in your minds eye. This is wonderful and the one lady is right music is a human right and when I don't hear music I get very antsy and anxiety filled.

When you really think about it, all this is just common sense. Music has such a profound effect on the whole brain, it is a trigger to so many memories and emotions it has to be beneficial. I have listened to all kinds of music consciously for sixty five years, it has given me all manner of "thrills"depending on the genre of the music being played. Why has it taken so long to be recognised as such???

Who knew that something as simple as music could trigger such memories of one's youth in our seniors! Keep in up! Don't stop!

Incredible. Just...absolutely incredible. Brought me to tears watching these elderly folks become animated and singing... it's so beautiful to see this.

My nephew is a nurse/musician and applied a very similar technique (he did a CNN interview on the subject) and it is an absolutely amazing concept!…DEFINITELY needs to be an implement used in nursing homes and brain injury patients. Brilliant work on this!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Dougs Mum is such a kind soul, so sweet.

It has been found with the elderly, that a chronic urinary tract infection can mimic dementia symptoms and, in some cases, violent outbursts for no reason. It's a urinary tract infection but has not the usual symptoms like in everyone else - urge to urinate, irritation in urinary tract etc. One doctor said the nursing homes are full of people diagnosed with dementia and senility and, when some are given antibiotics to cure the urinary tract infection, all the symptoms of dementia, etc, go away. That is, if it's really a urinary tract infection causing the symptoms of dementia and/or sudden violent outbursts. In some cases, it's actually dementia. Pays to get it checked out. If a doctor refuses to check your elderly relative/friend/etc for a urinary tract infection and they were diagnosed with dementia, find another doctor who will. In fact, if the urinary tract infection is causing the dementia symptoms, when antibiotics are given, within a few days, all the dementia symptoms are gone gone gone.

I am a firm believer that music is great for the Mind, Body , Heart & Soul!

Music is language.. it is always within us. bless the music

Music is great for all ages. It calms the mind and brings back personal memories, of the past that means much to us.

This is incredible !. What a job , what dedication, and love and care by these folk who look after the aged and infirm . and the amazing results music of their era can produce . Im not sure whether im blown away by the discovery of music as a relief or even healer , or by the love these doctors and staff have displayed for the sick and elderly in this video . Both I think , amazing , simply amazing . A most informative video , Thank you so much .

Neil diamond kept me emotionally sane when I was in a really emotionally harsh marriage.

We need to bring this to USA . Sadly the study of helping people with illness are few far between.

Music is the portal to the soul 💕

Thank you so much ABC Science for featuring this amazing documentary. Please continue doing these kinds of inspirational and scientific studies. I just feel for those elderly who had lost their memories already and then when they hear a certain music that deeply affected them, there is a sudden progress in emotion and recall.

I am really wondering what kind of person would downvote this video - I feel kind of sad for them. This is a wonderful video!

I worked at a senior living facility and I would sing to patients and more times then not they would sing with me word for word. I watched a similar documentary called alive inside , when I started to cry 😂 it was so inspirational and heart wrenching. It Livened them up almost instantly and bright then back memories . People who stopped speaking spoke again.

What a wonderful video. I’ve always believed that music is the universal language. I was a radio DJ for a while and my show was “Traveling around the World with music”. I would play music from all continents during my show. Even though you couldn’t understand the words, people really enjoyed the music and would call in with appreciation.

It's interesting that music stimulates the brain even when memory starts to fade. in some cases even help to reduce people's drug dependency. A few years ago met a retired man in his 70s who started learning piano so that he can play the piece he heard his father play many years ago. Assuming that he had little experience in music although he may have taken lessons in the past, he quickly mastered the piece. The man uses prescription painkillers regularly that supposedly help him cope with his anxieties. The music playing continues to this day and the prescription medications as well. Not sure if the music has a strong enough effect for him to do away with his medications totally or even partially.

*the power of music is truly amazing!*

My mother had advanced dementia, and was slumped in a chair, head down, among other similar folk when I walked into the lounge of the care home where she resided because I could no longer cope, and as I came up to her to hold her hands and kiss her head, her soft white hair, 'Moonlight Serenade' by Glenn Miller came playing into the room and I rose her up and we swayed together, she holding tight, responding to the music of the war years. It didn't matter that she didn't who I was. Robert UK.

How sweet. Their eyes light up. Though I can't imagine putting my Mom in a nursing home. I'm proud to say she is almost 91,lives on her own,does her own banking,cooks and cleans with no assistance. I take her grocery shopping and we go to church together. Yes,sometimes she forgets and repeats the same stories,but that's just a way of remembering things.

Music . David played for Saul to smooth his nerves and make him feel good ......Father God bless them in Yeshua Jesus Name 🙏🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊

How wonderful to see the joy in their faces.. 😍

This is one of the greatest things to touch the internet. Truly amazing. It's pure, it's powerful, and it just means so much.

I'm happy to find this because my grandmother has dementia but we've kept her out of nursing because we're certain she'd regress with the unknown. My mother drives over almost every night and either takes them out to dinner or cooks for them, I'll be sure to ask her to bring some of her favorite music.

Wonderful story! There's something very special & powerful happening here and I hope the idea of incorporating music into the lives of those that, thru fault of their own, have drifted into a world of silence can live, breath & feel again. I've seen with my own eyes exactly how music can break all barriers & reach a place deep inside

If you are working in a care center of any type please do this with your residents. For 20 years I worked in care service. And before ipod was a thing lol I used to dance and sing with my residence. I would watch them wake up. People who couldn't normally talk would talk people who couldn't dance would dance.

That lady who for a moment forgot who her son was, was absolutely amazing. She haven't lost her joy and laughter that's for sure!