Music Provides a Roadmap to Memory

For families dealing with a loved one diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's, just to recapture a moment with that person as they knew them in healthier days is a golden goal.

Terri Presser, a music therapist at in Muskego, has been a witness to such moments, and says it's the power of music that is at work. Presser has worked in the field for 15 years, and has used music to reach patients far into the progression of these memory-robbing diseases.

"It's literally all in your head," she explained, pointing to the science of the connection between music and helping a patient 'come back' from an often wordless existence.

Music 'processing' is one of the jobs of the prefrontal cortex in our brains, which lies just behind the forehead. Brain mapping has revealed that it's also this part of the brain that is involved in self-reflection and recall of autobiographical detail. The final piece of the puzzle is that this is the last area of the brain to atrophy from Alzheimers.

In short, music and memories exist together in the brain and can be a key to reaching patients in the later stages of disease as it's the last part of the brain to succumb. The effect on such patients is one of the most rewarding parts of Presser's job.

"I play a piece of music that has been relevant to someone, and they will light up, they will sing all the words accurately, they socialize and look at others around them," she said. "And if their family is there, they are amazed. Often they will be able to hear a story from their mom or dad that perhaps they hadn't heard before, and that is such a gift."

She said a fair amount of assessment of each patient is done before therapy is applied in order to establish a set of goals. In general, research into what music was their favorite or popular during their teens and 20s is used to get a reaction from the patient and garner the most success.

Presser related a story of an elderly man who had played violin, but suffered a debilitating stroke. Presser showed him a violin and used the bow to compensate for the side that was paralyzed, he finger boarded the strings allowing him to play. Later his family came with one of his own violins, and he quickly unpacked it from the box and again played with Presser's assistance.

She said they talked briefly about his experiences as a musician, hearing stories his family had not heard before, and then he packed the violin away, simply stating, "that's enough." She said he died a few weeks later, but the moment that his family could share with him was invaluable, and the ability to allow him to use his abilities was just as rewarding.

"Generally from the minute these people are diagnosed, they are told what they won't be able to do. In these cases, music creates those moments to be more of quality and taps into their abilities."

Presser will be presenting "Beyond the Music: Memories within the Meloday" at the Alzheimer's Association State Conference on May 7. She said she's excited to be a part of it, as often music therapists are not understood, and people aren't aware of the music-memory connection. She said she would love to reach more people in their homes, many of whom have little assistance beyond that of a spouse, who may be themselves ailing.

However, the work she does and the results she sees has been worth it. "It's an honor to be 'in their window' and open up the gateway of shared memories."

For more information, visit the Alzheimer's Association; Presser also welcomes questions at tjpresser@yahoo.com.