Like Singing Away the Blues, a Harvard-Trained Neurologist believes singing might also chase away Alzheimer's

March 29, 2011-- -- Worried about your memory?  Singing may help you remember, says a Harvard-trained neurologist who'll be delivering a keynote address on novel strategies to treat Alzheimer's at the 19th Annual American Academy of Anti-Aging (A4M) Congress www.worldhealth.net  April 7-9, 2011 in Orlando.

Besides such things as eating properly and exercising, there are some novel strategies to treat Alzheimer's, according to Dr. Richard S. Isaacson, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and author of the book "Treating Alzheimer's Preventing Alzheimer's: A Patient and Family Guide, 2011 Edition".

Just as you can sing the blues away, you might be able to do the same thing with Alzheimer's, he said. 

Music therapy has been shown to be quite effective in stimulating the mind and exercising the memory, he said. 

Recent studies on music therapy for memory have shown that people can remember sung lyrics better than just the words alone, he added.  Music therapy can also increase chemicals in the brain that affect mood, behavior and sleep.

Another novel approach involves fasting. Data from studies involving dogs, mice and humans is showing that you can protect the brain by changing the food you eat.  Further, manipulating how your body takes in nourishment may also be helpful.

Those who are able to fast for 12 to 14 hours can produce a mild state of ketosis, a form of sugar starvation, during which the body produces ketones, an energy source or pick-me-up for the brain. 

So delaying the onset of Alzheimer's can be achieved by a multimodal approach, involving a synergy of safe interventions, he said.