Music Mends Minds

We are so excited to share another fantastic resource for folks facing the challenges of dementia. Music Mends Minds is a non-profit that was started by Carol & Irwin Rosenstein in 2014. When Irwin was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson’s, the Rosenstein’s felt their lives slipping away. Carol enrolled Irwin in the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program where he began playing the piano for participating students and adults...and something miraculous happened. Within weeks, it was clear that playing music empowered Irwin – he became more aware, responsive, confident, energetic, talkative and hopeful. Irwin’s neurologist explained that “music may help stimulate increases in dopamine secretion from the brain for more sustained levels of energy and happiness.” In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, music is a powerful medicine because it has multiple facets of healing through the mind and body.  

Music Mends Minds (MMM) is nonprofit that creates musical support groups for patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and PTSD. These musical support groups foster a community between the musicians and singers, as well as their families, friends, and caregivers, all of whom thrive on socialization and music-making. MMM also aims to educate the public about the latest scientific findings regarding the benefits of music and the brain through several platforms including online and print resources. Click here to find the MMM band nearest you and let the healing begin.