Dementia: Benefits of Brain Stimulating Activities
Dayla F. Doll
Dementia in itself is not a disease but the loss of mental function in more than two areas. Dementia is the loss of memory and other mental abilities that affect daily life. Dementia is a series of symptoms that accompany a disease. The dementia symptoms can affect
Language
Judgment
Memory
Spatial abilities
Visual Abilities
Memory loss and the loss of important functions of the brain, such as knowing how to eat, talk, walk, swallow, and recognition are all a part of the progression of dementia and the diseases accompanying dementia. Activities that stimulate brain activities help to retain and possibly restore some of the functions that have been lost. Scientific …show more content…
Cultures have been created on the basis of rhythm, integrating ritual, dance, song and music into every aspect of community life.
A review of the literature on the therapeutic benefits of music reveals that vibrotactile rhythm playing, the drum circle, is one activity that would be suitable for implementation with diverse groups within long-term care facilities. In particular, preliminary research indicates that rhythm applications are very successful with persons who are severely regressed with dementia and who can no longer function well enough to maintain their activities of daily living and require institutional care. (Clair, 1995)
In a study comparing vibrotactile and non-vibrotactile instrumental playing responses, it was found that vibrotactile stimulation, drum applications, is the most likely to facilitate active music participation in the severely regressed person with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Singing, on the other hand, will decrease and eventually cease in this population. (Clair A. B., …show more content…
In this study, it was noted that residents with severe cognitive impairment who actively participated in drum circles were able to influence the rhythm played in the group. The residents were regressed to a state in the disease process where they would not ordinarily be in a position to lead others in an activity. Consequently, participation in the drum circles was an enabling experience that promoted mastery. (Schindel, 2003)
How drum circles work. The drum circle is a fully participating group, sharing a rhythmical and musical experience. The key to these drumming sessions is the circle formation, which facilitates socialization. Sitting in a circle allows everyone to see and hear each other, with everyone heaving an equal position. As a result of the circle configuration, the quality of the experience is based more upon the relationship between all its members, rather than on the musical abilities of those forming the
Dayla F. Doll
Dementia in itself is not a disease but the loss of mental function in more than two areas. Dementia is the loss of memory and other mental abilities that affect daily life. Dementia is a series of symptoms that accompany a disease. The dementia symptoms can affect
Language
Judgment
Memory
Spatial abilities
Visual Abilities
Memory loss and the loss of important functions of the brain, such as knowing how to eat, talk, walk, swallow, and recognition are all a part of the progression of dementia and the diseases accompanying dementia. Activities that stimulate brain activities help to retain and possibly restore some of the functions that have been lost. Scientific …show more content…
Cultures have been created on the basis of rhythm, integrating ritual, dance, song and music into every aspect of community life.
A review of the literature on the therapeutic benefits of music reveals that vibrotactile rhythm playing, the drum circle, is one activity that would be suitable for implementation with diverse groups within long-term care facilities. In particular, preliminary research indicates that rhythm applications are very successful with persons who are severely regressed with dementia and who can no longer function well enough to maintain their activities of daily living and require institutional care. (Clair, 1995)
In a study comparing vibrotactile and non-vibrotactile instrumental playing responses, it was found that vibrotactile stimulation, drum applications, is the most likely to facilitate active music participation in the severely regressed person with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Singing, on the other hand, will decrease and eventually cease in this population. (Clair A. B., …show more content…
In this study, it was noted that residents with severe cognitive impairment who actively participated in drum circles were able to influence the rhythm played in the group. The residents were regressed to a state in the disease process where they would not ordinarily be in a position to lead others in an activity. Consequently, participation in the drum circles was an enabling experience that promoted mastery. (Schindel, 2003)
How drum circles work. The drum circle is a fully participating group, sharing a rhythmical and musical experience. The key to these drumming sessions is the circle formation, which facilitates socialization. Sitting in a circle allows everyone to see and hear each other, with everyone heaving an equal position. As a result of the circle configuration, the quality of the experience is based more upon the relationship between all its members, rather than on the musical abilities of those forming the