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Interviews and Field Experience
Neurologist Perspective: Dr. Manisha Parulekar, Hackensack Meridian Health
In my interview with Dr. Manisha Parulekar from Hackensack Meridian Health’s Neurology Department, she explained that lifestyle choices like physical activity, diet, and social engagement are crucial for slowing down Alzheimer’s progression. However, she highlighted how music can be a powerful non-pharmaceutical tool:
“Music can help manage mood, especially when it’s something the patient enjoys. It can also act as brain stimulation, even for those with advanced disease. Sometimes they’ll start humming a familiar tune even if they don’t remember much else”.
Dr. Parulekar also shared that while formal music therapy isn’t commonly prescribed due to insurance coverage and accessibility issues, she has seen patients benefit when families incorporate it on their own. She explained that listening to familiar songs or continuing to play instruments, even imperfectly, can still strengthen neurological pathways.
“Even if they play the wrong notes, it’s okay. The goal is keeping those connections alive. Familiar music can bring patients to a ‘happy place’ even in terminal stages”.
Although music won’t cure Alzheimer’s, it can slow progression, improve mood, reduce agitation, and make caregiving less overwhelming.
Educator Perspective: Mr. Wolf, AP Music Theory Teacher
I also interviewed Mr. Wolf, my high school’s AP Music Theory teacher. He gave insight into how music and memory work together even before experiencing a cognitive disease.
He explained that memorization in music relies on breaking things into small patterns, which strengthens recall:
“We break songs down into two measures at a time, then four, then eight. It builds upon itself. The more familiar the patterns, the easier they are to remember” .
Mr. Wolf also shared a powerful personal story about his aunt, who had dementia and was nonverbal, but could still sing Christmas carols with his family:
“She hadn’t spoken for months, but when I played piano, she recited the lyrics. It was incredible. Music tapped into something deeper that the disease couldn’t erase” .
He emphasized that music not only strengthens memory, but also builds emotional connections and social growth in students. In his words:
“Participation in music programs makes students better socioemotionally—they learn how to work together, build relationships, and grow as human beings” .
My Field Experience
Alongside these interviews, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a memory-care facility, where I experienced firsthand how music and activities impact patients with cognitive diseases.
I quickly noticed that many residents were hesitant to try new activities, especially ones requiring fine motor skills like coloring. To adapt, I introduced finger painting and simple games like BINGO, which became huge hits. Even though patients sometimes needed numbers repeated or forgot to call out “BINGO,” it didn’t matter, what mattered was that they were engaged and having fun.
One of the most strongest observations was how music and familiar media sparked moments of recognition. During movie time, residents who rarely spoke would suddenly pay attention to a theme song and even recall the movie title. Staff confirmed that songs often triggered more awareness than conversation or exercise alone.
Watching someone who couldn’t remember their own schedule suddenly recognize a song from their childhood showed me how deeply music connects us to our memories.
This experience taught me that even small, simple activities can make a big difference in quality of life. While music therapy isn’t always formally available, just playing familiar songs, or encouraging residents to hum along, brought joy and connection into their day.
Takeaways
From a doctor’s clinical expertise, a teacher’s classroom perspective, and my own field experiences, the message is the same: music reaches places that medicine cannot. It may not reverse Alzheimer’s, but it provides dignity, comfort, and connection both for patients and for their families.