Even though individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and other memory impairments may not recall the name of a particular song or why they know it, they convey a sense of "knowing" through their responses of increased attention, positive affect and reduced agitation.

Based on 30 years of experience, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function has found that despite losses in cognitive ability, short term memory and changes in behavior, people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia have the ability to recognize music of personal importance.

Trying to find the right song to reach a person with dementia may be difficult if their personal music preferences are not known. However, research in music and memory indicates that people tend to remember best the songs that were popular when they were teenagers through their early 20's.

Here are examples of some of the most requested songs from various musical genres as well as time periods. We have provided links to these songs on iTunes so you would be ready to load them onto your loved one's iPod in no time.

The Wall Street Journal's Melinda Beck
and Christina Jeng did a feature on how
familiar music is being used at Beth
Abraham Health Services in the Bronx
to help individuals with dementia.
Click on the following to view the clip,
"Music Triggering Memories in
Dementia Patients."
 

R&B 

I Say A Little Prayer		Aretha Franklin
Baby Love		Diana Ross & The Supremes
It's The Same Old Song		Four Tops
Dancing In The Streets		Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
My Guy		Mary Wells
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay		Otis Redding
Wonderful World		Sam Cooke
The Tracks of My Tears		Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
My Cherie Amour		Stevie Wonder
My Girl		The Temptations

40's

Moon Glow		Artie Shaw
Some Enchanted Evening		Barbra Streisand
God Bless The Child		Billie Holiday
White Christmas		Bing Crosby
That's Amore		Dean Martin
Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)		Doris Day
Unforgettable		Nat "King" Cole
Fever		Peggy Lee
Some Enchanted Evening (1949)		Perry Como
Mambo Italiano		Rosemary Clooney

50's

The Shoop Shoop Song		Betty Everett
Do You Wanna Dance		Bobby Freeman
Take Good Care of My Baby		Bobby Vee
Runaround Sue		Dion
Dawn (Go Away)		Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Downtown		Petula Clark
He's So Fine		The Chiffons
This Magic Moment		The Drifters
A Little Bit of Soap		The Jarmels
Will You Love Me Tomorrow		The Shirelles

 60's

Don't Stop		Fleetwood Mac
Dawn (Go Away)		Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Come a Little Bit Closer		Jay & The Americans
California Girls		The Beach Boys
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction		The Rolling Stones
The Times They Are A-Changin'		Bob Dylan
Sunshine On My Shoulders		John Denver
House of the Rising Sun		The Animals
Monday, Monday		The Mamas and the Papas
Let It Be		Paul McCartney

 Broadway

New York, New York (On The Town)		Adolph Green, Cris Alexander, John Reardon
People (Funny Girl)		Barbra Streisand
Hello, Dolly! (Hello, Dolly!)		Carol Channing & Cast
Everything's Coming Up Roses (Gypsy)		Ethel Merman
Whatever Lola Wants (Damn Yankees)		Gwen Verdon
If I Were a Rich Man		Zero Mostel
Give My Regards to Broadway		Judy Garland
If I Loved You		John Raitt, Jan Clayton
My Favorite Things		Mary Martin
Once In Love With Amy		Norman Wisdom

 Spiritual 

Rock of Ages (Duet With Vince Gill)		Amy Grant
Not About Us		Bishop Noel Jones & The City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir
I'm Walking		Donnie McClurkin
Blessed Assurance		Cece Winans
Do You Know Jesus		Jackie Ball
Amazing Grace		Mahalia Jackson
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot		Mavis Staples & Lucky Peterson
Soon I Will Be Done With the Troubles of the World		Rev. James Cleveland & The New Jersey Mass Choir
His Eye Is On the Sparrow		Selah
Jacob's Ladder		The Staple Singers
Just As I Am		Wintley Phipps

Country

I'm Still a Guy		Brad Paisley
Yes!		Chad Brock
This Kiss		Faith Hill
River of Love		George Strait
Hurt		Johnny Cash
The Gambler		Kenny Rogers
Mama Tried		Merle Haggard
Carolina In the Pines (Re-Recorded)		Michael Martin Murphey
Because of You		Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson
The Devil Went Down to Georgia		The Charlie Daniels Band

Spanish

La Vida Es un Carnaval		Celia Cruz
Se Me Fue		El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
Turn the Beat Around		Gloria Estefan
Nessun Dorma		Jose Carreras
Amor de Mis Amores		La Sonora Dinamita
I Need to Know		Marc Anthony
Para Siempre		Vicente Fernández
Son Fo		Africando

For more information on how Personalized Music can help individuals with Alzheimer's and other memory impairments, contact us at imnf@bethabe.org. You may also click here to learn more about the IMNF’s Well-Tuned: Music Players for Health Program and see how we may be able to be of assistance.