How can songwriting benefit memory retention?
Researchers in memory and “brain fitness” are finding that “use it or lose it” rings true for ongoing retention of cognitive health and prevention of memory loss. There is strong anecdotal evidence that older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who engage in original music-making can create and retain new musical and verbal information even if they have short-term memory deficits.
Researchers in memory and “brain fitness” are finding that “use it or lose it” rings true for ongoing retention of cognitive health and prevention of memory loss. In her 2007 study of Songwriting Works in a nursing home, Dr. Theresa Allison, M.D. M. Music, found that elders diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease were able to repeatedly create and recall music and lyrics to their own original songs despite their short-term memory deficits.
