Music playlists could help dementia patients

FILES - This photo illustration shows the Swedish music streaming service Spotify on March 7, 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish music streaming provider Spotify said on January 12, 2015 it has 15 million paying subscribers, boosting claims that its revolutionary and controversial model can work. AFP PHOTO / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

Personalised music playlists that rekindle memories of childhood and happy moments may bring joy to dementia patients, because music can activate parts of the brain not affected by the disease, experts say. 

“One of the biggest challenges we have in our society is that so many people are living longer and developing dementia later in life,” said Andy Lowndes, deputy chair of the Playlist for Life charity in Glasgow, Scotland. The charity has so far trained 4,650 health care staff to use music to treat dementia, and it estimates that its volunteers have reached more than 21,000 people since 2015.