In 2015, singer/song-writer Joni Mitchell had a massive stroke. When she left hospital, she could neither walk nor talk. Her prognosis was very poor. A friend, a fellow musician but also a neuroscientist, Daniel Levitin, eventually advocated playing her a compilation of her favourite music. Fortunately, Mitchell had actually made a compilation, intended for a Starbucks initiative. This was on a bookshelf in her home. Nurses repeatedly played her the music and Mitchel made a dramatic recovery. She's now back, performing. Levitin now recommends 'Music as Medicine', not only for stroke victims but for sufferers of depression and dementia (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/18/she-couldnt-walk-she-couldnt-talk-music-therapy-helped-joni-mitchell-recover-from-a-stroke-could-it-ward-off-depression-and-dementia-too). This story doesn't, of course, establish a causal link between the playing of the music and recovering brain function. It's not, however, the first time that the benefits of exposing patients to familiar sights and sounds has been advocated. Proving a clear benefit will be very difficult but there appear no downsides to using this 'therapy'. I'm making my compilation now!
No comments:
Post a Comment