It has been the thread that ties together significant experiences in my memory. I remember as a child listening to my Grandpa sing melancholy songs from his homeland, Sweden. I would sit spellbound when my sister played the piano, begging her not to quit.

Who can forget those amazing tunes from the teens? My family sang when we got together — Christmas, weddings, funerals, reunions. I love to listen to a great jazz collection that my dear Elwood gave to me over the years. We have CDs from many countries we have visited, each sparking a memory of our time there.

This is a universal experience, I think. Small wonder then that music therapy is such an important tool in several neurological conditions. In the last decade, with newer techniques to study the brain, we are discovering more about how music influences us and how this then can be developed into therapeutic management.

Brain effects from music are many. Music promotes neuron recovery after a stroke by increasing our steroid hormones-estrogen and testosterone. It increases important neurohormones with long names like neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, endorphins, endocannabinoids, dopamine and nitric oxide.

An example of music’s effect on the brain is something called the “Mozart Effect” in children with epilepsy. Playing Sonata for two pianos in D major K448 for eight minutes at bedtime reduces seizures by 30 per cent. This has been repeated in several studies. The same music in strings didn’t work; it has to be the piano!

Music therapy in Parkinson’s Disease is fascinating! The whole brain reacts to music — different areas react to different components. For example, pitch is processed in the temporal lobe, the same area that governs speech prosody, patterns of rhythm and sound used in poetry.

Rhythm cues involve the areas that are affected by Parkinson’s Disease, prefrontal motor cortex, cerebellum and basal ganglia. Rhythm and tonality are processed in the limbic areas — the area associated with emotions. Pleasurable music activates the areas of reward and emotion.

Interestingly, speech and singing are mediated through different neurological channels — that explains why advanced Alzheimer’s patients can sing an entire song from their youth, but cannot put together meaningful words to make a sentence. So complex!

Knowing these mechanisms and locations of music’s influence has led researchers to study “entrainment” — the process of synchronizing our internal rhythms with external musical beats and has led to the development of Neurological Music Therapy.

Auditory rhythmic patterns, at the right speed, can optimize rhythmic movement for Parkinson’s patients.

It reduces the hesitancy, improves the “freezing” gait where they simply can’t move and it improves the length of their stride. They can “feel the beat” and develop control of their movements.

The rhythmic structure gives pace and cues movement structures. The music activates these areas affected by Parkinson’s and can invoke supplementary areas to accomplish the movement. This can have a positive influence on their mood and sense of accomplishment.

Physical exercise accompanied by music is motivating and has many benefits such as enhanced strength, flexibility, body control and heart and lung benefits.

Alzheimer’s patients can be helped also. Interestingly, if they are played music that is the choice of the experimenter, it does not consistently help but if the play list contains songs that have meaning to the person, music can improve cognition such as orientation, attention, speed, decision making, mood and behaviour.

If, in addition to listening to music, they would be interactive, playing rhythmical instruments or moving to the music, there were benefits on paranoia/delusion, aggression and activity disturbance in people with advanced disease. Playing soothing music can enhance relaxation. Singing songs with sad emotion was the most effective for recall of personal experiences and played an important role in the memory process.

After learning all this, I’ve decided that I’m going to spend more time listening to music, singing and dancing to establish wonderful memories and develop a firm base for the future!

Dr. Vicki Holmes is a retired family physician who has a special interest in Palliative Care and Women’s Health. She is passionate about sharing medical information with the public! (Vicki’s Photo: Memories by Mandy)

-Dr. Vicki Holmes