It’s often said that reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. It’s a favorite pastime for many and has several cognitive benefits, including perhaps a favorable impact on Alzheimer’s disease.
Depression is common in the elderly, but it’s often hard to recognize. Caregivers may miss the signs of depression or mistake them for side effects from medications and illness. A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that approximately 7 million adults over the age of 65 suffer from depression.
Music is powerful. The notion that music can play a role in healing and behavior dates back to the works of Greek philosophers, Plato, and Aristotle. In the more than 2,000 years since their observations, the therapeutic value of music has been studied and implemented in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes.
