Dear Residents, Families, and Friends,
In May, Kensington Park Senior Living had the unique opportunity to support and attend the Music, Brain Health, and Dementia Summit in Washington, DC, at the AARP Headquarters. The summit was hosted by the NIH/NIA-funded Music and Dementia Research Network, including Dr. Julene Johnson, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging.
This collaboration included experts from multiple fields including music therapy, neuroscience, engineering, computer science and advocacy. The purpose of the summit was to accelerate mechanistic studies of music-based interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as build a research network and community of collaborators. The outcome of the work at the summit will be a publication outlining research priorities.
At this summit, I was inspired by the work researchers continue to do to explore the positive effects of music and musical experiences on the brain and body. I am hopeful for what is to come, as the benefits of music and music therapy continue to reach more aging adults and people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
This cause is dear to my heart as my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when I was a child. She was born on May 16th, 1924, and I have been thinking of her lately as last week marked what would have been her 100th birthday! She loved to listen to classical music and go to symphony orchestra concerts. I keep her in my mind and heart as we continue to advocate for further research that supports individuals with dementia and their caregivers and families.
For more information on Music Therapy or Brain Wellness, contact Julia McCarren at jmccarren@kensingtonsl.com.