Tony Bennett’s Brain is Wired for Music
When Tony Bennett hears a familiar song’s opening notes, he still knows the key, the tempo, and its lyrics. Tony has Alzheimer’s Disease. Yet, Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes reports, the 95-year-old entertainer can still croon as smooth as ever because his “brain has built itself around his music.”
Tony Bennett’s physician, Gayatri Devi, MD, is a neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, NYC, and says his transformation to lucidity when it comes to singing “goes beyond muscle memory.” “For Tony, music is more than what he does; it is who he is.” More clinically, Dr. Devi explains that music and emotion are stored in a different part of the brain – one that is not affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. And, that Tony Bennett’s music is “an over-abiding passion and everything else is secondary.” In other words, his brain is programmed for his music.
As it turns out, Dr. Devi is the same neurologist who diagnosed the mother-in-law of WFC’s Founder, Glenn Lane. In fact, WFC’s foundational roots began with his and Lisa’s Alzheimer’s journey of learning the value of an individualized diagnosis and treatment for the disease.
“Our story starts the day my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. My family and I felt the vulnerability, devastation, and overwhelming feelings as we began to understand the disease and find the best home care assistance. A short time later, my mom and aunt were also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and we quickly realized what works for one does not work for everyone. That’s when my family and I formed Westchester Family Care.”
– Founder/CEO Glenn Lane
Familiarity with Alzheimer’s Disease
More than 6.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today. The number of people living with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. This number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060, according to the CDC. By 2060, the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population with rise from 16 percent to 23 percent.
Given these startling trends, it’s likely that the average US family member either is close to someone with the disease already or will become familiar with an Alzheimer’s sufferer in the not-too-distant future. It’s important to recognize the complexities Alzheimer’s – – it’s a disease that demands proper diagnosing and one that needs the right customized plan of care for each sufferer.
Alzheimer’s Is a Spectrum Disorder
Image from https://nybrain.org/staff/
Dr. Gayatri Devi is a well-credentialed advocate for Alzheimer’s sufferers and is a frequent speaker on what she calls “myths, stigmas, and hope” about the disease.
A peer-chosen Super Doctor, placing her in the top 5% of New York City neurologists for 14 consecutive years, Dr. Devi is a nationally recognized expert in neurodegenerative disorders.
She is the only American physician board-certified in Neurology, Pain Medicine, Psychiatry, Brain Injury Medicine, and Behavioral Neurology, allowing for a comprehensive approach to brain disease (Curriculum Vitae).
She has come to define Alzheimer’s as a “spectrum disorder” and not a single disease. Each case has its own set of properties that make it different – different symptoms, different pace pf progression, different treatment response, and different prognosis. In her own words, Dr. Devi said on a CBS This Morning broadcast “it’s as different as the person who gets the illness.”
Myth vs. Truth
The Alzheimer’s Association published the Top Five Myths About Alzheimer’s Disease. These myths, along with facts about each, follow:
- “Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same thing”
- Dementia describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory, reasoning or other thinking skills.
- Many different types of dementia exist, and many conditions cause it.
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. -Alzheimer’s Association
- “I will develop Alzheimer’s disease if my parent has it”
- “People often think that genetics is the main determinant of Alzheimer’s. That’s absolutely not the case. Less than 5% of Alzheimer’s cases are from genetics” -Dr. Gayatri Devi
- “Only people in their 70s or older get Alzheimer’s disease”
- Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.
- Yes, most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older, but approximately 200,000 Americans under 65 are living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
-Alzheimer’s Association
- “Alzheimer’s disease symptoms are normal as we get older”
- There are differences between Alzheimer’s symptoms vs. those associated with aging:
- “There are no treatments available for people with Alzheimer’s”
- “Treatment does make a difference and patients do benefits from it. It depends on the individual patient and prescribing the correct treatment response.” -Dr. Gayatri Devi
Hope and Tips for Managing Alzheimer’s
Dr. Devi and other professionals in the dementia sector express hope that awareness of the disease and adopting healthy practices can prevent, slow, or delay the conditions leading up to Alzheimer’s. What’s more, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine report that “It is now known that brain changes typically begin years or even decades before people show symptoms.” A growing body of prevention research is emerging that suggests there is a window of opportunity to be proactive prior to the onset of symptoms.
The following are practical tips to fight the onset of Alzheimer’s:
Get moving
“Aerobic exercise for 45 minutes three times a week or more helps to keep the brain healthy and actually is associated with the growth of new neurons in the brain regions that are important for memory.” -Dr. Gayatri Devi
Get enough sleep
“Practice good sleep hygiene and sleep enough to feel rested every day,” advises Dr. Devi.
Take care of your heart
Monitor your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels and strive to keep both in their normal ranges. “It’s important to keep your heart healthy because good heart health is crucial for good brain health,” Dr. Devi said.
Be sociable
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, being socially engaged may support brain health. Try pursuing social activities that are meaningful, such as volunteering.
Adjust your eating habits
Researchers have shown that several dietary plans, including the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet)—which recommends eating fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fatty fish, and nuts—and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet may help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Use your brain in a new way
Keep your brain challenged by doing something you don’t normally do, like a jigsaw puzzle, or building a piece of furniture. Or play a game such as bridge, which makes you think strategically, says the Alzheimer’s Association.
Don’t smoke!
Smoking increases the risk of cognitive decline and quitting smoking can reduce your risk of dementia to levels that are comparable to those of a non-smoker, notes the Alzheimer’s Association.
Meeting the Challenges of Memory Care at WFC
Living with dementia or Alzheimer’s impacts every moment. Everyday tasks become increasingly challenging. But there is hope through memory care, a specialized form of care for people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Our clients can have a high quality of life, no matter the progression of their cognitive disease.
We provide custom memory care services for those living at home and in facilities. Our trained caregivers are there to help maintain loved one’s dignity and independence by providing the quality of life they are not only used to but deserve.
Dementia Coaching
We partner with a dementia specialist to coach our HHAs and families on different techniques to meet the unique needs of cognitively challenged clients. Our professionals are trained to defuse emotional frustrations and provide mentally stimulating activities.
Westchester Family Care Inc. assists people of all ages, by customizing home care plans to maintain healthy quality of life and safety at home.
Contact WFC for an immediate family need or when planning for future needs: info@westfamilycare.com, 914-223-8073,
www.westchesterfamilycare.com.
Westchester Family Care Provides Peace of Mind and Confidence that the Elderly Are Safe and Living with Dignity in Their Own Home.