Individuals with Alzheimer's disease continue to feel emotions after listening to music

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It is truly important to consider the perspective of the person listening to the music, what they value, what is important to them, and the experiences they have associated with that music. It is further important to remember that music listening can have unintended side effects (such as prolonged negative emotions). It is difficult to predict what someone will respond to, and how they will respond. Many of the healthy participants commented on how surprised they were by the strong feelings of emotion they experienced in a lab setting after just a few minutes of listening. How we use music in a therapeutic setting is important to consider, in terms of the intersection of the listener, the context, the person providing the music, sociocultural and ethical implications, an how we present the music so that it is accessible. I implore those who read this perspective to remember that headphones can increase social isolation for those who are already socially isolated, and that those with dementia may want to turn off or change the music but not remember how to operate the device used for music listening or effectively communicate their wants and needs.

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