Author(s): Carmela Matrone and Elvira Brattico
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to memory loss. The prevalence of AD varies among many different factors, including age, comorbidities, genetics, and education level. There is no way to definitively diagnose AD before performing an autopsy. There is no cure for AD, although large economical efforts are currently capitalized in promising research and development of new strategies. The purpose of this commentary is to review what we already know about the effects of music treatment on AD. Beside not curative of AD, the use of music seems to exert beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s symptoms. In turn, we briefly summarize the accumulated evidence on the effects of music on brain plasticity, discussing the necessity to further investigate the molecular mechanisms governing this plasticity, with a particular focus on the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We believe that a further comprehension of how music influences the molecular processes in the human neuronal network might open new perspectives to enhance quality of life for both the patient and his or her caregivers.
