The Score | Reversing Cognitive Decline with Music

In 2015, the Fort Collins Symphony in Colorado launched B Sharp, a program for people with dementia and their primary caregivers. B Sharp provides tickets to the Fort Collins Symphony for 30 people with dementia and their caregivers as well as receptions and opportunities to engage with other community members in a social setting. Dr. Jeni Cross, an associate professor of sociology at Colorado State University, is conducting a study that measures the program’s impact on quality of life and social sustainability; preliminary results show that the majority of dementia and Alzheimer’s participants experienced a reversal of cognitive decline from exposure to classical music. Her study notes heightened alertness and engagement and more positive interactions between caregivers and patients. While the study is limited in size, the results as they relate to cognitive decline reversal are substantial. The Fort Collins Symphony is partnering on B Sharp with Colorado State University as well as healthcare firms, local businesses, and the Larimer County Office on Aging.