Why does music calm people with dementia so much?

I've noticed that when I play the old songs my dad used to like, he becomes calmer and even sings some verses, even though he can no longer hold a conversation. Why does this happen?

It's not a coincidence or a miracle: music activates areas of the brain – linked to emotion and procedural memory – which are among the last to be affected by dementia. This is why a person who no longer recognises their children can sometimes sing an entire song from their youth.

Why it works when words fail

Verbal communication depends on brain areas very vulnerable to the disease, but the response to music is distributed across various regions, including deep emotional zones. About 93% of communication between people is non-verbal – tone of voice, rhythm, expression – and music fits exactly into this channel that remains accessible, even in advanced stages.

How to use music in daily life

When and how to apply

Music is especially useful in three moments: to calm an agitated phase, to create a bridge of communication when words are no longer enough, and to make difficult tasks like bathing or meals smoother. Try playing the favourite playlist 10 minutes before a task that usually generates resistance – often it lowers the tension before it even begins.

"My mum hasn't spoken in full sentences for over a year, but when she hears Amália, she sings the whole lyric, from beginning to end. It's the only moment I feel she's still there, whole."

What NOT to do

See also