6 The Hampton Roads Messenger
Volume 11 Number 12
Brain Health for a Song-- Aging and the Arts
photography in recent years and has found her artistic voice. In fact, her artwork, has been featured in group exhibitions
at a California
gallery. Through the Elders Learning Community, in collaboration with LifeLong Medical Care in Berkeley, Rogers and other seniors, some with dementia, participate in art therapy that helps stimulate their creativity and build resistance to cognitive decline.
Rogers recounted that when she was told about the art program, she thought they would bring a coloring book and crayons. But, to her surprise she was given water color paints and brushes. She watched the technique of an artist in residence with the program and quickly gained interest.
“It was amazing how I learned to
Shown above, Carnell Rogers, 101, said starting photography and painting enriched her in late life. (Dawn Davis/Caribbean Today)
BY DAWN DAVIS
SAN FRANCISCO--Dementia, or cognitive decline, is not inevitable as we age! So say researchers who have conducted studies that refute that stereotypical notion.
For example, a study in the
Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) Journal of Gerontology by Karen
Anderson-Ranberg and
colleagues is aptly titled “Dementia is Not Inevitable.” It looked at 276 centenarians (people age 100 or more) living in Denmark.
based
The results of their population- survey, along with
examinations, had mild to severe dementia;
showed 51 percent 37
percent had no signs of dementia; and 12 percent had diseases that could contribute to a dementia diagnosis.
The researchers concluded,
“Dementia is a common, but not inevitable, phenomenon in extremely aged people such as centenarians.”
The good thing is, even when
cognitive decline is diagnosed, there are creative ways to help bolster the brain’s functioning and enhance quality of life.
At the recently 21st International concluded Association of
Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) World Congress in San Francisco,
medical
about 6,000 members and academic researchers from more than 75 countries gave presentations on the latest findings on aging, an experience that will touch us all sooner or later.
A significant number of symposia and workshops were on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and how to care for older family members living with these conditions.
Perspectives World Congress participants
learned that, although there is no
cure or medication to stop or slow the progress of dementia, one light at the end of the tunnel may be reached through the arts. They saw up close and personal how introducing art, music, theater or dance can change a senior’s perspective on aging.
Carnell Rogers is indeed perfect impacted the
"poster elder" positively by the introduction of
the arts in their lives. At age 101, Rogers revealed that painting and photography has brought tremendous richness to her life.
“I had no idea I had this in
me. Learning to paint has kept me interested in the world around me,” mused Rogers at the IAGG Age Stage venue setup to highlight programs helping older adults to age with grace and purpose.
Rogers took up art and
mix the colors. I learned how to color without a coloring book,” she said with delight. “Art has given me something else to think about and look forward to, and it is something different that I haven’t done before.”
Intervention Strengthening the argument for
arts intervention in eldercare was an IAGG symposium that focused on research by Sherry Dupuis and her co-researchers. Through focus groups, video data and interviews from four research projects that looked at visual arts, theater
and clowning.
concluded, “The arts create transformative spaces for relational flourishing prompt change reduce
and the
needed the
social to
harm
and suffering experienced by older adults living with dementia.”
Engaging elders in what one presenter called
“interactive
musical adventures” has also proven to
therapeutic in helping to maintain mental
be positively and social
balance. The
nonprofit Songwriting Works (SW) is helping lead the charge in battling cognitive and emotional health with interactive songwriting.
A winner of the Gilbert
Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Legacy Award, the organization, led by founder/director Judith-Kate
San Francisco's Bayview Older Adult Choir performing at the
World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics. (Dawn Davis/ Caribbean Today)
Older adult choirs are also an
example of how music works to develop sharper focus, creativity, and social connectedness. San Francisco’s Community Music Centre Bayview Older Adult Choir rocked the house at IAGG’s Age Stage with jazz, blues, and gospel songs showing the world that ageing is like a song building to a dramatic crescendo.
They
September 2017
Friedman, writes songs in the words and vocal rhythms of the elders it serves.
joy, hope, health and community through song,” SW visits
With its mission to “restore nursing
homes, assisted living facilities and other communities, and the nonprofit engages older residents to tell their stories,
memories and everyday
wisdom. Together the musicians and seniors create tunes to go with the lyrics that emerge. Friedman and her team
of professional songwriters/ singers help give voice to these older residents and the result is improved social interaction,
blossoming
creativity, and increased brain activity. Having served more than 3,000
participants across the United States and Canada, SW has generated hundreds
of original songs, some
of which will be featured on a new album, Life’s a Song.
Measurable Results Invaluable to seniors’ wellbeing
overall, Theresa “Creating Allison, MD, a
geriatric physician at the University of California, San Francisco, noted that SW’s program results are measurable.
and performing
original songs improves quality of life and enables institutionalized elders to remain vibrant and creative,” Allison said.
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