Could art and music be the answer to Alzheimers

• 06th September 2016 03:25pm
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Now that Charlie Miller is retired, you can find him belting out pop songs a number of times a month with UMKC students in a choir. Nearly every night, he goes to a play or movie or checks out some live music. You see, Charlie has always loved music, but since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 10 years ago, the arts have become even more important to him.

"It's very calming," he said. "I used to have an incredible memory, and that part is not as prevalent anymore; it’s frustrating. So I get some tunes in and it makes (the troubles) go away."

Charlie is one of the 36 million people living with Alzheimer's in the world today, the brain-deteriorating disease accountable for loss of memory and, ultimately, motor skills. luckily for Charlie, the progression of his disease is unusually delayed. It could be genetics (his family has a history of delayed Alzheimer’s) or, as one new book by a local author highlights, it could actually be his love for the arts.

Music, especially piano music is not only very relaxing and soothing but can help you retain memories, recent research suggests