By Laurie Baron
SAN DIEGO — If you are a senior citizen or a child or grandchild of a senior citizen, you probably know or will know someone in the future coping with Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, as the baby boomers start entering the ranks of the septuagenarians, the numbers of Americans suffering from dementia will grow exponentially. The search for a medical magic bullet that can prevent or cure this affliction certainly constitutes one front in the battle against it.But what can be done to improve the quality of life of the five million people Alzheimer’s patients languishing in hospitals and nursing homes now?
Alive Inside dramatically demonstrates that providing them with IPods which have personalized play lists is one measure that is effective, low tech, and inexpensive. Director Rossato-Bennett had heard about the amazing results former computer industry employee and social worker Dan Cohen was having with this approach and decided to follow him for one day to film what happened with the memory impaired seniors Cohen visited. After witnessing them suddenly remember the lyrics and melodies of the music and articulate the emotions and events they associated with it, Rossato-Bennett continued to document Cohen’s successes for another three years.
Commentary by Oliver Sacks and Dr. Bill Thomas explains why Cohen’s therapy works so well and why it has been so difficult to get funding for it. The part of the brain that processes music is the one that Alzheimer’s affects least. Thus, music provides “a backdoor to the mind” which subsequently evokes emotions and memories. The shifting of the site of aging from extended families and nursing homes (which used to be in people’s homes) to long-term care facilities which rely primarily on medication to treat those stricken with Alzheimer’s segregates them from children, familiar surroundings, friends, and relatives. Pills and routine rather than companionship and spontaneity exacerbate their loss of self. Sacks’ appearance may remind viewers of the two films based his books which deal with similar themes: Awakenings (1990) and The Music Never Stopped (2011).
Alive Inside won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. The capacity of music to get seemingly catatonic people dancing, singing, and speaking is inspiring to watch. I don’t share the criticism some reviewers have leveled that the film degenerates into an infomercial for Cohen’s non-profit organization Music and Memory. His method provides a ray of hope to a devastating illness that society prefers to keep out of sight and out of mind.
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Baron is a professor emeritus of history at San Diego State University. He may be contacted at lawrence.baron@sdjewishworld.com
I have heard great things about the movie and definitely believe in the power of music. Family caregivers should understand, however, that the use if an mp3 player (iPod – Apple’s mp3) should not be a substitute for companionship.The caregiver needs to be aware that music can also cause agitation. I may like a song today but tomorrow it may spark an emotion. In a private setting,it’s much better for for the music to be played aloud so that there is participation by both care partners.
I fully agree with you. The brevity of the review format kept me from mentioning
that the film also speaks about the need for human contact and focused attention (around half of the people in nursing homes have no family members to visit them). It shows how one woman who can’t remember basic things becomes a nurturing grandmother whenever she is with her grandchild. It also shows the therapeutic effects of bringing children and animals into nursing homes. I wished it had included something about new residential models in Scandinavia that assure multi-generational occupancy or about the research that shows how socializing with others appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, but I realize that it focuses on the regenerative power of power. For a 75 minute movies, it covers a lot of ground.
Thanks for replying. The models in Scandinavia are of great importance for all of us to learn from. Maybe it needs a follow up article 🙂