Despite his Alzheimer’s disease, jazz legend Tony Bennett’s love for singing — and his capacity to recall lyrics and perform in front of thousands of live spectators — has remained. Here’s the science behind how that could be possible.
Few could have guessed that despite his age, Tony Bennett would still have two major concerts, performing hundreds of songs for a big audience and recalling all of their lyrics, left ahead of him when his family announced earlier this year that he had Alzheimer’s. However, there is a unique connection between music and the brain.
“Something amazing happened when it was time to rehearse,” said Anderson Cooper in a recent 60 Minutes segment about Bennett’s preparation for his career finale. The piano player would plunge into the set and take to the stage, whereupon “the legendary showman was back”—performing lengthy sets from memory. In the face of incurable Alzheimer’s, Bennett was able to recall memories of music and lyrics, leading bystanders to describe it as “nothing short of a miracle.” However, neurologists weren’t shocked by his ability to switch on his musical and lyrical memories in the midst of a severe case.
Music is a powerful memory trigger. Every recollection of an event, from the marriage or prom, is triggered by hearing a song that has special meaning for you. And when neurodegenerative illness strikes, this remains true. Many people with Alzheimer’s disease have problems remembering recent events or conversations. They can be less verbal and more visual. However, despite their difficulties, they may still be able to recall musical memories for many years after other types of memories have faded away.
Music has been linked to autobiographical and episodic memory, as well as cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in healthy people and those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Why is it that the memory of music is preserved while other cells in the brain die?
The Science of Musical Memory
Many regions of the brain are affected by music. The auditory cortex, as well as the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional processing, are among the numerous brain systems involved in music appreciation. The amygdala is also important for encoding emotional memories. One theory is that these parts of the brain are more resilient to cell death since they contain cells that may be better equipped to withstand such damage.
Researchers revealed in a 2015 research that familiar songs activate specific regions of the brain. The scientists discovered particular regions of the brain that responded to these songs in healthy people. Then, researchers studied the brains of many individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers discovered that the regions responsible for processing these musical memories do not show significant cell loss or atrophy.
In another experiment, researchers found that photographed-evoked memories declined dramatically while musical memories remained stable. Music is being recognized as a key component of Alzheimer’s disease therapy. Researchers are beginning to realize the significance of music in “unlocking” memory in Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers are discovering that the sections of the brain associated with music-related memories are the last to go in Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s why music therapy is so powerful in assisting individuals in later stages of Alzheimer’s in reconnecting with their past experiences.
Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s
For these reasons, music therapy is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for Alzheimer’s symptoms. There are several music initiatives throughout the world that aim to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Passive listening, making playlists of old favorites to spark reminiscences, or even playing or singing music as Tony Bennett does are just a few examples of approaches.
Music therapy is a type of non-medical treatment that is both enjoyable and simple to implement, with the added benefit of allowing family members the chance to bond while listening to their loved ones. “He just turned on,” Susan told Cooper about Bennett’s performance at Radio City Music Hall earlier this year, when he was accompanied by megastar Lady Gaga. “It was like a light switch went off.”
Despite having Alzheimer’s, Bennett never misses a beat when it comes to music. Music therapy isn’t only for musicians; it’s also a wonderful way to share some of your music enthusiasm with loved ones who are going through their own Alzheimer’s experiences.
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