Cab Calloway Tune 'Awakens' Alzheimer's Patient: Video

Old Man in Nursing Home Transformed by Music from the Past

Henry is an elderly man who has lived in a nursing home for over a decade. He suffers from Alzheimer's, and can barely answer yes-or-no questions. However, when Henry listens to music from the era of his youth, he completely transforms.

Grab a tissue and watch the video below. Henry is a fan of big band music, particularly Cab Calloway.

The video features Dr. Oliver Sachs, who tells us, “The philosopher Kant once called music the ‘quickening art.’ And Henry is being quickened, he’s being brought to life. [...] Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience. Music evokes emotion and emotion can bring with it memory."

The video below is part of a documentary called Alive Inside; which follows a project called Music & Memory, in which care workers distribute iPods to Alzheimer's patients. The theory tested in Music & Memory is that music can "unlock" the minds of those suffering from the dementia and memory loss brought on by Alzheimer's.

Videos

(original) Man In Nursing Home Reacts To Hearing Music From His Era

see larger video

sourced by NowPublic Staff

• 

  Created by NowPublic Staff | add comment

• 

  Created by NowPublic Staff | add comment

• 

  Created by NowPublic Staff | add comment

• 

  Created by NowPublic Staff | add comment