On Repeat: Listening to favourite music improves brain function in Alzheimer’s patients: Toronto Study

Researchers at the University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto have demonstrated that repeated listening to personally meaningful music induces beneficial brain plasticity in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease.

To mark World Alzheimer’s Month this September, we are asking the UK to make time to listen to music with a loved one for 30 minutes a week. Our #powerof30 campaign, supported by actor Christopher Eccleston, aims to get people benefitting from the power that music has to promote and support wellbeing, which for many is at a critical low after lockdown.

New funding from Music for Dementia and the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) is set to help more people benefit from the power of music and social prescribing.

After weeks of reading through and assessing applications to The Paul & Nick Harvey Fund, we are delighted to announce that 27 organisations have received grants of between £5,000 and £50,000.

A year after Paul Harvey played his Four Notes composition on BBC Breakfast, Music for Dementia teamed up with the BBC Philharmonic to help him fulfil a longstanding dream of conducting a symphony orchestra. It resulted in an emotional and spinetingling afternoon, with Paul conducting the BBC Philharmonic playing two of his compositions and also playing the piano with the orchestra.