Music and Alzheimer's

Music benefits people with cognitive impairment and, in addition, is a perfect instrument to unite generations, because it encourages enriching and emotionally positive interactions.

Under this premise, the Scientific Director of the Program for the Prevention of Alzheimer's at Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Dr. José Luis Molinuevo, promoted the project "Life Soundtrack, the soundtrack of my life"; an initiative carried out together with the La Salut School of Sabadell, the AVAN Foundation of Sabadell and the Musical Technology Research Group of the Pompeu Fabra University.

Life Soundtrack, the soundtrack of my life

In order to study the benefits of listening to music for people with dementia, the project brought together a group of 11 students from first year of A-Level and 16 people with Alzheimer's. Throughout the academic year, the adolescents were working on the design of an intervention to measure the effects of music on the emotional and behavioral state of the patients.

To undertake the project, Dr. Molinuevo and Dr. Nina Gramunt, Scientific Coordinator of the Office of Social Intervention of the BBRC, were responsible for providing students with the information, advice and training necessary to carry out scientific research, accompanying them during all stages of the process.

The project not only helped to improve the well-being of people affected by dementia and their environment, but it was also valuable to awaken in students scientific and social vocations and sensitize them to problems or realities that, perhaps, seemed distant to them.

The initial idea came from the documentary "Alive Inside" (2014), by director Michael Rossatto-Bennet, which showed the revitalizing effect of music on people affected by dementia.

Click here to download the poster about the project presented at the 14th International Conference on Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases.