How Music Unlocks Hidden Memories in People With Dementia—And Why It Matters

Music appears to bypass the memory loss associated with dementia, activating brain regions tied to personal identity and life history even when other cognitive abilities decline. Researchers at the University of Washington are studying how performing arts can help people living with dementia reconnect to themselves and their communities through specially designed music and art programs.

Why Does Music Work So Well for Memory Loss?

Sarah McKiddy, a Ph.D. student in nursing at the University of Washington, is investigating the powerful connection between music and brain health in people with dementia. "I think it's a really powerful memory cue, because it's so tied to our identity and relationships," McKiddy explained. Music can extend to people's identities, their connections to family, and their sense of belonging in society.

Research has shown that nostalgic or familiar music activates what neuroscientists call the "default mode network"—the part of the brain responsible for autobiographical processing, or understanding a person's own life story. This activation happens even when other memory systems are compromised by dementia. McKiddy describes this effect as "like little time capsules." She notes that "we've learned so much about how protected these musical memories can be in the brain, despite these changes in cognition and memory".

What Does a Music and Art Program Actually Look Like?

McKiddy partnered with the Balourdet Quartet, a group in residence with the Seattle Chamber Music Society, to test her ideas at the Memory Hub in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood. During a recent session, seven older adults with dementia gathered to listen to live music and participate in a creative activity. The musicians played three unique pieces—two from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and one written specifically for the group in 2024.

Before the performance, participants were invited to let the music inspire their creativity. As the quartet played, some people closed their eyes and tapped their feet, while others sat quietly, absorbing the sounds ranging from frantic staccato to soaring crescendos. Afterward, participants received watercolor paints and created their own artwork inspired by what they heard. One participant painted her friend sitting across from her. As they relaxed into the creative process, the musicians played the songs again.

Judy Melissinos, 82, who attended the session, captured the emotional impact simply: "I couldn't tell you what it was. I can just tell you I felt very happy".

How Are These Programs Expanding in Communities?

The Memory Hub operates as a community center for people with dementia and partners with a network of organizations to bring music and arts to participants. These partnerships include:

• Frye Art Museum: Offers the Creative Aging Program, which combines visual arts with cognitive engagement
• Elderwise: Provides "spirit-centered activities" four hours a day, four times a week, where people with dementia participate in music, art, and relationship-building
• Full Life Care, Kin On, and the Alzheimer's Association: Partner organizations that help connect people with dementia to music and arts programs

Elderwise director Janet Salsbury explained the philosophy behind these programs: "It's the idea that no matter where we are, cognitively or even physically, any of us as humans can still tap into each other's essence." The programs are built on the premise that people can continue to learn and grow despite living with dementia.

Most participants come with caregivers, but Elderwise members have more independence and are dropped off for the morning, which also gives caregivers a much-needed break. Creating a safe, unhurried space is essential. "If you think about life outside, it's busy. Maybe they're hurrying to get out the door, getting dressed, at confusing doctors' appointments, traffic—and they come here, and you just want it to be a safe space," Salsbury said.

What's Next for This Research?

McKiddy's colleague, ethnomusicology student Leo Freedman, is recording audio from the sessions to create a "soundscape"—almost like an audio scrapbook—that will be shared with musicians, participants, and the public. Once her dissertation is complete, McKiddy plans to share her findings with organizations and communities both locally and nationwide through research publications.

A key goal of her work is to include people with dementia as active participants in research, not just as passive recipients of interventions. This shift in approach could transform how communities design programs for people living with cognitive decline, emphasizing their agency and capacity for connection even as memory fades.

Renee Foster Jeffrey, 77, a participant in one of the sessions, reflected on how the music transported her back to childhood. "I used to sing," she said. "Christian songs, music I made up. Hearing that music brings me back to that time." Her hands danced as she spoke, showing how music can unlock not just memories, but the emotions and physical responses tied to them.