A perspective from ethnomusicology: How to methodologically choose the correct music globally to awaken memories in the Alzheimer's patient

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMusic tracks were assembled in sociocultural context and in autobiographical order as experienced by an Alzheimer's patient and tabularized with the patient's personal attendant emotions to each music trackMethodThe patient and family members were interviewed, as per Ethnomusicological method, reconstructing the significant events in the patient's life, including the experience of any present music at that time. The music tracks were then played to the patient.ResultThe patient recalled many episodes of her life but lacked geographical and time perspectives such as when and where the events took place. Her posture and speech seemed to improve after she heard her familiar music. Her emotions mostly corresponded to how she felt earlier in life when first encountering the music.ConclusionMusic potentially serves as a powerful trigger to awaken not just the memories associated with the music but others not associated with the music in a cascade effect. The patient had a better sense of her identity, while recalling the names of her family, some correctly and others not. The speech capacity was better after the patient's music was played as opposed to the interview phase done without music, suggesting that the music may trigger broader improvements beyond memory recollection. The emotions experienced via the triggered familiar music of significance were a strong driving force to recall specific events in her life. This pilot study needs to be expanded into different multicultural settings to ascertain its global impact.