Buzz, Body, & Bites
A newsletter for actively aging adults Virginia Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences June 2025 Newsletter
Buzz
Your Prescription is Ready...It’s Music!
Have you ever heard a song come on the radio and been transported in time? Remember being a kid and listening to music with your entire body by jumping around, running about, and leaping through the air while singing Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On by Jerry Lee Lewis? As we age, we transition from listening to music with our entire bodies to sitting still in performance hall seats, with a different kind of appreciation. Almost instantaneously, music can alter our mood, prompt memories to flood back and sometimes, bring tears to our eyes. What is happening on a neurological level when we listen to music? Why will a person living with dementia “wake up” and become engaged when they hear a familiar song? Why is folding laundry more enjoyable when my favorite song comes on? Why can a person with Parkinson’s disease walk more steadily when music is playing? Why do I notice my aches and pains a little bit less when listening to music? Why do I remember that song with all 50 states in alphabetical order from grade school? What is this magic? Emerging research suggests that music making, and participation can help with emotional regulation and motor control while promoting communication and connectedness between people. It can also stimulate the release of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. These hormones support a variety of physical and emotional benefits. Maybe you aren’t leaping through the air anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the awesome power of music. While science is catching up to what we already know, the next time you feel the urge to move to music, shake it! It’s good for you! But don’t break it… by Joanna Culligan MA, MT-BC -Therapeutic Program Manager at Engagement Center for Creative Aging
Music Matters! Incorporating music into YOUR everyday life to enhance your health and wellness is easy and has far-reaching benefits! In a recent poll supported by the AARP and University of Michigan, 98% of adults aged 50-80 reported experiencing health- related benefits from music! Some reported benefits related to music listening and participation include: Reducing blood pressure, anxiety and pain Improving sleep quality Promoting relaxation Creating opportunities for joy and reminiscing Changing your mood and No instrument or formal training? NO PROBLEM! Turn on the radio or ask Alexa to play your favorite artist. Sing along, tap your feet and dance to enjoy (and benefit from!) one of life’s greatest pleasures. energizing your body Supporting spiritual connections
Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender ex- pression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.
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OCI June 2025
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