Recently, scientists at Boston University (Alzheimer’s Disease Center) have revealed a fabulous finding that can change the quality and duration of our memories. Listening to music is a great secret to longevity of memory. There are two theories to explain the positive effect of music on memory. First of all, music has a sensitive component and therefore listening to music can trigger emotional memories (which are the most powerful memories we have). Second, when we learn music, we store this knowledge as procedural memory, the kind of memory that will eventually become automatic with repetition and practice (also known as muscle memory). Interestingly, emotional memory seems to be the last to disappear and also has a greater chance of surfacing when Alzheimer’s patients listen to music.

Dementia primarily destroys the parts of the brain responsible for episodic memory associated with specific events in our lives – but leaves largely intact the parts of the brain associated with procedural memory. As we do not lose this memory as we age, we continue to enjoy music. The ability of music to stimulate our procedural memory leads to rediscovery of the path of our emotional memories and, consequently, can rescue and bring to light the episodic memories that were lost. Thus, music allows dementia sufferers to access untouched memories of the past.

Interestingly, researchers found that Alzheimer’s patients remembered lyrics much more easily after the words had been sung to them, different from a not so natural recall when the words had just been spoken. These researchers suggest that music, mainly through repetition of the act of listening, can increase the formation of new memories in patients.

It is not yet clear, however, how music aids memory. The first hypothesis is that music helps patients to form new memories from procedural memory. The second hypothesis is that patients strengthen new knowledge by linking them to emotions. A third possibility would be a combination of these two.

ALIVE INSIDE is a cinematic exploration that demonstrates the ability of music to awaken our souls and discover the deeper parts of our sense of humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett tells amazing experiences of individuals with dementia who have been revitalized through the simple exercise of listening to music. His camera reveals the unique human connection we find in music and how your healing power can triumph in situations where prescription medication has limited results.

This gripping documentary accompanies countless health care visionaries, including social worker Dan Cohen, founder of the nonprofit Music & Memory (https://musicandmemory.org) that struggles to demonstrate music’s ability to fight memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from dementia.  Rossato-Bennett visits family members who have witnessed the miraculous effects of music on their loved ones, and offers interviews with experts such as renowned neurologist and bestselling author Oliver Sacks (Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain) as well as Bill Thomas , Al Powers, Naomi Fiel and musician Bobby McFerrin (“Do not Worry, Be Happy”).

Just be musical! A recent NBC news piece shows there is a growing movement to use music for helping patients with Alzheimer’s and their caretakers, and shows that it does not matter if you sing, play or both, as long as you include the power of song in your life.

For more information about the effect of music in memory, see also the following articles:

Peck, K. J., et al. (2016). “Music and Memory in Alzheimer’s Disease and The Potential Underlying Mechanisms.” J Alzheimers Dis 51(4): 949-959.

Osman, S. E., et al. (2016). “‘Singing for the Brain’: A qualitative study exploring the health and well-being benefits of singing for people with dementia and their carers.” Dementia (London) 15(6): 1326-1339.

Hallam, S. and A. Creech (2016). “Can active music making promote health and well-being in older citizens? Findings of the music for life project.” London J Prim Care (Abingdon) 8(2): 21-25.

Ford, J. H., et al. (2016). “The effects of song familiarity and age on phenomenological characteristics and neural recruitment during autobiographical memory retrieval.” Psychomusicology 26(3): 199-210.

by Ricardo Saban e Maria Carolina Tuma
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/escutar-m%C3%BAsica-para-n%C3%A3o-perder-mem%C3%B3ria-m-carolina-tuma/