Many older people experience challenges with low mood or depression. While they may not always feel comfortable talking about their mental health in the same way they would discuss physical health, music can be a powerful and accessible way to support emotional well-being in older adults.
There is no denying the power of music. It can make us smile or cry, inspire us to dance and move, and connect us to meaningful moments in our lives. Music often becomes the soundtrack to our most important memories.
Research also shows that music can act as a powerful form of medicine — especially for older adults living with illness or emotional challenges.
Music and the Brain
Research has shown that music directly affects the brain. Responses to music are found across all areas of the brain, allowing it to engage the mind and evoke strong emotions.
Studies have found that both actively listening to music and having music play in the background can improve cognitive skills, working memory, and recognition memory.
According to the National Institutes of Health, music can trigger strong positive emotions and elevate mood. It can also lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress and anxiety, while stimulating other chemical reactions in the brain that promote positive feelings.
Music, Disease, and Illness
For ageing adults with memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, music has been shown to bring back memories, slow cognitive decline, and improve processing speed.
Even when illness or injury affects certain parts of the brain, music cognition often remains intact. Other areas of the brain continue to respond to music, and research suggests that brain waves naturally synchronise with the rhythm of the music being heard.
Music is particularly beneficial for people with Alzheimer’s disease because it encourages engagement in the present moment. Even when current events cannot be remembered, many individuals can still move to a beat or sing along to familiar lyrics. Music therapy often helps lift mood, stimulate memory, and create meaningful interaction with loved ones when verbal communication becomes difficult.
For individuals undergoing cancer treatment, music has been shown to reduce anxiety, pain, and depression. It can promote relaxation and help patients cope with treatment in ways that medication alone cannot. Research indicates that sound stimulates the same neurotransmitters involved in pain sensation, which may reduce the intensity of perceived pain.
Music and Caregivers
Age-related illness rarely affects only one person. Families and caregivers experience the emotional and physical impact as well.
Music can open channels for communication and connection between caregivers and those in their care. It offers shared moments of joy, comfort, and togetherness, and can support acceptance and emotional healing.
Music also provides an opportunity for caregivers to rest and recharge. For family members balancing the dual role of loved one and caregiver, this relief can be essential for mental and physical well-being.
Both older adults and caregivers can benefit greatly from music, and it is something simple and easy to incorporate into daily life at home.
