Music activates regions of the brain spared by Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at the University of Utah Health are looking to the salience network of the brain to develop music-based treatments to help alleviate anxiety in patients with dementia.

They believe music will tap into the salience network of the brain that is still relatively functioning.

Previous work demonstrated the effect of a personalized music program on mood for dementia patients. This study set out to examine a mechanism that activates the attentional network in the salience region of the brain. The results offer a new way to approach anxiety, depression and agitation in patients with dementia. Activation of neighboring regions of the brain may also offer opportunities to delay the continued decline caused by the disease. For three weeks, the researchers helped participants select meaningful songs and trained the patient and caregiver on how to use a portable media player loaded with the self-selected collection of music. To read the original text, click the link below:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180428145111.htm