Music therapy has emerged as a promising intervention for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. With its ability to stimulate memories and positive emotions, music has been shown to enhance cognitive and emotional functioning in those affected by the disease.
Sam DuBois is a doctoral candidate in the Kinesiology department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has earned a master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and is currently working on her PhD. She has finished all coursework and is in the beginning stages of her dissertation.
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a range of conditions that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease, but an umbrella term for several diseases characterized by the loss of cognitive functioning.
Communication is an important part of life. It helps maintain relationships, build trust, and resolve conflict. A person with dementia needs to experience communication to preserve their self-worth and quality of life. However, talking and communicating with someone with dementia can become challenging.
Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats in 1 minute. Heart rates vary from person to person. It’s lower when you’re at rest and higher when you exercise. Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats in 1 minute when you are at rest or relaxed, such as when you are sitting or lying down. According to the American Heart Association, a normal RHR is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bmp) for adults.
The terms Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are often used interchangeably. They share many similarities such as symptoms of memory loss and disorientation. Both are caused by damage to nerve cells and their connections in the brain, which lead to changes in a person’s thoughts and behaviors. Nevertheless, they are two different medical terms.
Genetic research in relation to Alzheimer’s disease became a topic of conversation in 1993 when Dr. Judes Poirier led a research team to study how the APOE gene may influence a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The published journal article that shared the results from this study is the first one on our list of 5 Research Articles About APOE.
APOE is a gene that provides instruction for the body to make a protein called apolipoprotein E. Everyone has the APOE gene because we all need this protein which combines with lipids (fats) to carry cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins through the bloodstream. The protein helps transport cholesterol to areas where it’s needed and out of areas it isn’t needed.
Hearing loss accounts for nearly 8% of dementia cases worldwide (roughly 800,000 cases per year). Scientists and medical professionals have found a strong link between hearing loss and dementia.
Meaningful activities fill our lives with joy and a sense of purpose. It makes us feel useful and gives us a feeling of pride that we look forward to when we accomplish certain tasks. It feels good to know that you are accomplishing something beneficial to yourself or even to others.
