Music and Dance Improve Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease

For people who are aging, two ailments that worry them most are fear of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Both are slow, relentless and progressive degenerations of portions of the brain that make up the essence of our thoughts and movements.

I’ve recently written about Michael J Fox in My Menopause Magazine and his inspirational story of perseverance to get back on TV in spite of his battle with Parkinson’s Disease. I also posted a recent video interview with Dr. Victor Henderson of Stanford about things you can do to prevent Alzheimer’s.

Over the past few years there been advances in our understanding of the benefits of music and dance in helping to relieve the symptoms of these two diseases. In one report in the Washington Post, groups of people with Parkinson’s Disease coping with symptoms that range from trembling hands to herky-jerky arms and legs or living with implants in their brains to reduce symptoms, are standing up and dancing to the beat of music.

It’s social, it’s exercise therapy and helps people with Parkinson’s Disease from withdrawing from their community. It also helps produce helpful brain chemicals that combat the disease.

Music has also been found to help people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and help stroke victims walk.

The impact of music and dance and rhythm are great. Music is a wonderful medicine.

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