Always on my mind: Understanding the role of music in dementia

Sally Bowell is a Research Fellow at the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK). In this blog post she discusses a new Commission on Dementia and Music, set up and run by ILC-UK.

Music is an undeniably significant part of being human. It spans different genres, cultures and eras, and it promotes bonding, communication and wellbeing.

From listening to music in the car, to playing in an orchestra, discussing the charts, to joking about each other’s ‘bad’ music tastes: music is a crucial part of daily life.

Research also suggests that our connection to music stays with us throughout our lives, even whilst living with dementia. This powerful notion underpins the creation of a new Commission on Dementia and Music, being coordinated by the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK) and funded by the Utley Foundation.