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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame percussionist Mickey Hart remembered that his grandmother loved watching him perform as a drummer with the Grateful Dead. So when she was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, Hart decided to give her a "private concert" -- in his Porsche on the back roads of California. After he tapped his drums for about 15 minutes, the elderly woman, who had not spoken for more than six months, looked at him and said, "Mickey."
Hart's recalled this experience in the spring 2005 issue of Vantage(TM), a quarterly publication of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America that is uniquely geared to caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses.
Hart's personal family experience and subsequent research into drumming convinced him that music therapy is a necessity for people with Alzheimer's disease.
"It is like the air they breathe ... Rhythm connects with your being in the disconnect of Alzheimer's disease. It connects to something that makes you feel good, and it enhances lifestyle and quality of life," he wrote in the magazine's guest column.
In another article in the latest issue of Vantage(TM), renowned music therapist Alicia Ann Clair, director of the Division of Music Education and Music Therapy at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, confirmed the increasing usage of music as a therapeutic tool for persons with dementia.
According to Clair, "Music, especially rhythm playing and singing, can spark compelling outcomes even in the very late stages of Alzheimer's disease. When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements."
The article offers tips on how to engage people in music based on their skills intact at different phases of the disease process. For example, in the early stages, caregivers can encourage someone to sound the trumpet or tap piano keys again; in the middle stages, they can play music or sing as the individual is walking to improve balance or gait; and in the late stages, they can do sing-alongs of tunes sung by rote in that person's generation.
The latest issue of Vantage(TM) also looks at the positive effects of physical and mental exercise on memory function; new brain imaging techniques that may lead to earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease; and coping with family dynamics in the face of this brain disorder.
AFA introduced Vantage(TM) in August to specifically explore medical, behavioral and practical issues from the vantage point of dementia caregivers. Articles are available online at http://www.afa-vantage.com. For a free subscription, visit http://www.afa-vantage.com or call 866-AFA-8484.
AFA is a national nonprofit organization focused on "together for care ... in addition to cure" for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and their families. Its services include a toll-free hotline, counseling by certified social workers, educational materials, referrals to local resources nationwide, and professional training. For information, visit http://www.alzfdn.org or call 866-AFA-8484.
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