Most of us know the feeling: how a certain song or piece of music can live with us forever and transform us in space and time when we hear it played. For people with Alzheimer’s, listening to familiar music may not only be a pleasurable and calming experience but it also seems to highlight that there is a part of the brain that may not be damaged by the ravages of the disease. Researchers at the University of Utah conducted a small study that seems to confirm what many of us have experienced first hand: in a person with Alzheimer’s, music seems to spark brain activity, and thus, it may lead to new treatments for managing symptoms and enhancing communication. So click on your iTunes and read more about this new study Here.

And for those of you who are opera lovers, you may be interested in knowing about a new piece of music set to premiere this coming fall at Opera Philadelphia. Starring the renowned opera singers Frederica von Stade and Marietta Simpson, this new piece, entitled “Sky on Wings,” is about the unlikely love story of two older women with Alzheimer’s. Read more about this exciting new production Here and scroll down on the Opera Philadelphiawebsite where you will find a link to a YouTube conversation with the director, composer, and librettist of Sky on Wings.