Week 3: Turning Up The Volume In Discovery
Kelin X -
Salutations, music and brain lovers! Welcome back to another weekly blog post about my senior project! I hope you all are doing well, and I appreciate you guys just riding along with me on my journey! I figured to dedicate this blog post mostly, if not all, about my research so far on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) itself instead of talking more about my observations I’ve had this week so far and about how other neurological and/or neurodevelopmental disorders tie into what I’m mainly studying. I might add in some specific information about music on different aspects of AD at the end of this post. Let’s get into one small chunk of the very cool information I’ve learned about Alzheimer’s. I hope you all are as excited as I am to get down into a fraction of the neuroscience behind it all.
For starters, if I haven’t already said this, I’d like to give you a proper introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease. As you may or may not already know, Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60–80% of cases. AD is a continuously progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior. At the core of this deterioration is the buildup of amyloid-beta plaques (protein deposits that form in the spaces between nerve cells in the brain) and neurofibrillary/tau tangles (abnormal accumulations of the protein tau that form in nerve cells in the brain), which disrupt neural communication and lead to widespread brain atrophy (a gradual decline in the size and volume of the brain; it occurs when brain cells (neurons) die or lose their connections, resulting in a shrinkage of the brain tissue). The hippocampus, a region crucial for memory formation and retrieval, is one of the first areas affected, leading to the hallmark symptom of forgetfulness. Symptoms often begin with mild memory loss and gradually progress to severe impairment in reasoning, language, and daily functioning; these can be quite devastating effects. This isn’t a not-so-fun fact but currently, Alzheimer’s affects over 55 million people worldwide, a number expected to rise as life expectancy increases and the fact that our global population is just aging.
So…you may be asking at this point: what are some risk factors, factors believed to contribute to AD’s development? Well to answer your question, examples include age, family history, genetics, head injury, certain medical conditions already present, vascular disease (conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease that can damage blood vessels in the brain), environmental factors, lifestyle factors, and more.
Furthermore, researchers haven’t found a single gene solely responsible for Alzheimer’s disease; rather, multiple genes are likely involved. One genetic risk factor—having one form of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on chromosome 19—does increase a person’s risk for developing AD. People who inherit one copy of this APOE ε4 allele have an increased chance of developing the disease; those who inherit two copies of the allele are at even greater risk. In case you don’t know or you forgot, an allele is a variant form of a pair of genes that are located on a particular chromosome and control the same trait. The APOE ε4 allele may also be associated with an earlier onset of memory loss and other symptoms. Researchers have found that this allele is associated with an increased number of amyloid plaques in the brain tissue of affected people.
Despite ongoing research, there is sadly still no cure today, but medications and management strategies may temporarily reduce the symptoms. However, music therapy is a non-invasive, therapeutic tool to help Alzheimer’s/Dementia people navigate through their ups and downs of their condition. Research has continued to emphasize that music—particularly tempos, rhythms, and frequencies—can serve as a powerful tool for memory retention and cognitive stimulation in individuals with AD. Music has a unique ability to activate multiple brain regions simultaneously, engaging not only the auditory cortex but also the limbic system (responsible for emotions) and the prefrontal cortex (associated with decision-making and attention). Even when verbal memory fades, musical memory often remains intact, allowing patients to recall melodies, lyrics, and emotions associated with songs from their past; it’s such a beautiful and precious thing. Neuroscientific studies suggest that musical interventions can enhance synaptic plasticity (neuroplasticity), the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. This is crucial in AD, where neuronal networks are continuously breaking down. When a familiar song plays, it can trigger the recall of associated memories and emotions, providing a sense of identity and comfort for patients. This process occurs through the activation of the medial prefrontal cortex, an area that remains relatively preserved in AD until the later stages. Now let’s talk about the role of genre, tempo/rhythms, and frequency within music. To address the questions already asked in my week 2 blog post and any other potential questions that I’ll receive this week regarding how the components of music affect AD clients…when it comes to genre, there’s no particular one that’s more effective at engaging the brain and yielding positive results; however, usually compositions with slower tempos and harmonic progressions, have been shown to reduce agitation and improve mood in AD patients. The works of Mozart, Bach, and Debussy, for example, are often used in music therapy due to their calming effects and ability to engage higher cognitive functions. Memory retrieval is strongest when music from an individual’s formative years is played. For many Alzheimer’s patients, familiar songs from their early life evoke strong emotional and cognitive responses. As for rhythm/tempo… Slow to moderate tempos (60–80 beats per minute) can promote relaxation and cognitive engagement, whereas faster tempos (above 100 BPM) may stimulate movement and encourage physical activity, benefiting motor function. As for frequencies…high sounding and low sounding ones can both be beneficial but just in different ways; they make AD patients feel differently, as high frequencies tend to be more stimulating and provide alertness whereas low frequencies tend to be more soothing and for relaxation purposes. Some studies though suggest that 40 Hz auditory stimulation can enhance gamma wave activity in the brain, potentially reducing amyloid buildup and improving cognitive function in AD patients.
Just for additional information, in case you’re curious, Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. After she died, he examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps (now called amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of fibers (now called neurofibrillary, or tau, tangles). This is how amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles became 2 of the most significant and defining features of AD.
That’s all I have for you guys for this week. As always, feel free to leave any comments asking me any questions you may have! I’m always here for clarification and your wonderful insights! May your neurons keep firing and your melodies keep inspiring!
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