A new study has found that music helps elderly patients reconnect with their memories. The study included adults aged 54-89 in the Boston area. Participants listened to music for one hour every day for eight weeks and had their brains scanned before and after listening. Each participant listened to a highly curated playlist that contained some songs that were of importance to the participant and some that were selected by the researchers. The study found that the familiar music activates a path between the auditory center and medial prefrontal cortex, which can increase function in older adults experiencing memory loss. According to Psyche Loui, the creator of the research study, music has the ability to improve memory, cognition, and executive function in older adults. Loui hopes to use these findings to inform future studies on the connection between music and memory.
Image via Medical News Today
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