Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
09:09
Cryosectioning and Immunostaining Mouse Inner Ear Tissue: From Embryonic to Adult Stages
Published on: April 11, 2025
2.5K
Hearing and music in dementia
Julene K Johnson1, Maggie L Chow2
1Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|March 2, 2015
Summary
Hearing and music perception changes may signal early neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer disease (AD). This review covers auditory processing and music interventions for dementia patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Hearing changes are often overlooked in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer disease (AD).
- Auditory processing alterations may represent an early or preclinical marker for AD and other dementias.
- Music perception involves complex auditory and cognitive functions affected by neurodegeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on hearing and music perception in neurodegenerative diseases causing dementia.
- To focus on peripheral and central auditory processing in common neurodegenerative conditions.
- To examine music interventions for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on auditory processing and music perception in dementia.
- Analysis of research on peripheral and central auditory pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Synthesis of findings on music interventions for neurodegenerative conditions.
Main Results:
- Neurodegenerative diseases significantly impact auditory processing, including music perception.
- Early-stage hearing and sound processing changes can be indicative of preclinical AD.
- Music interventions show potential for managing symptoms in dementia patients.
Conclusions:
- Auditory and music perception deficits are crucial indicators in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Further research into early auditory markers can aid in timely diagnosis of dementia.
- Music-based therapies offer promising avenues for patient care and quality of life.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Dementia
730
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
730
01:31Hearing
59.1K
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
59.1K
01:17Auditory Perception
1.5K
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
1.5K
01:01Perception of Sound Waves
6.1K
The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
6.1K
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
2.0K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
2.0K
01:15Auditory Pathway
9.1K
Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
9.1K