Mariachi bands fire up fading memories of Mexican Alzheimer patients

MEXICO CITY, Oct 16 (Reuters) – Mariachi bands have lengthy been a staple of Mexican tradition, and now their energetic songs are discovering a brand new use: reawakening the reminiscences of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s illness.

The Mexican Alzheimer’s Heart is selling the remedy, hoping the music will fire up recollections of instances previous amongst sufferers with the degenerative sickness, encouraging them to sing and even dance to acquainted previous tunes.

“It makes me very unhappy, as a result of I keep in mind my husband, however other than that, I take heed to the music with pleasure as a result of it brings again many reminiscences that make me very joyful,” stated Leonor Camacho, a 90-year-old with Alzheimer’s in Mexico Metropolis.

Songs with hyperlinks to her husband, kinfolk and associates are performed to Camacho to enhance her day by day remedy, which incorporates saying tongue twisters with different sufferers on-line, and performing guide workouts to stimulate her reminiscence.

The course of remedy led by feminine guitarists, violinists and trumpeters in cropped jackets and large sombreros started in September and can proceed till mid-November, encompassing performances all through the town that sufferers can attend.

The reveals soak up ballrooms, boats on the waterways of the southern Xochimilco district and the capital’s conventional mariachi hotspot, the central sq. Plaza Garibaldi, within the hope that venues will hearth up sufferers’ reminiscences.

Regina Altena, head of the Alzheimer’s Heart, stated research present that music stimulates neurotransmitters within the mind, making a psychological and emotional connection that assist sufferers keep in mind and conjure up important occasions of their lives.

Initially developed in Germany 11 years in the past, the remedy was given a mariachi twist to adapt it for Mexican use.

Camacho, who has had Alzheimer’s for 5 years, is considered one of an estimated 1.8 million individuals with dementia in Mexico. Of them round 1.3 million are thought to have Alzheimer’s.

Through the afternoon, Camacho likes to peruse picture albums along with her daughter Maria del Rocio Maya, and retains her thoughts lively by making ready meals and doing different duties round her dwelling.

Since Camacho started the mariachi remedy, Maria del Rocio stated her mom had turn into livelier, and brought up a extra lively position in household life once more. Earlier than, Camacho tended to sit down alone in an armchair by the window, her daughter stated.

Modifying by Dave Graham and David Gregorio

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