Mother to Mother #19

Mother to mother # 19 Mavis MacDowell Articles in the Las Vegas Review Journal March 2015 and Scientific American Mind April 2015 were about how music heals the brain. How music’s power lifts our moods and builds connections. I actually bought a little organ a couple years ago. A friend who had a brain tumor removed had learned to play the organ and it had restored a lot of her function. Her husband died and her playing of the Organ also gave her emotional support. New therapies are using rhythm, melody and beat to help people with brain disorders recover speech, language, hearing, motion, and emotion. Wow! Talk about a positive effect, just from learning music. The treatment is called Melodic intonation therapy. When used intently over months it produces long term gains that appeared to arise from changes in neural circuitry, the creation of alternate pathways in the brain. This article was so interesting. You may be able to look it up online, on buy the March/April Scientific American Mind. Music is effective in treating neurological impairment by recruiting other undamaged regions of the brain. Music promotes recovery in speech, verbal memory, attention and motor function. Seven ways music works to repair function is through physical movement, emotional responses can produce chemicals that change mood and speed rehabilitation. Music is engaging, synchronization improves timing and coordination. Social aspects bring about coping skills. The joy of music can persuade patients to continue in their therapy. The personal aspects of music can promote memories, certainly helpful with Alzheimer’s disease. Try music therapy anyway you can with your loved one.