Singing - A Possible Rising Cure for Parkinson's Disease

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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181107111853.htm


Summary
This study explores group singing’s correlation with the improvement of Parkinson’s Disease. Mentioned are the positive changes in the behaviour and fine motor skills of participants with the disease who regularly sing; also discussed is the relationship between singing and bonding, inflammation, and the brain’s compensatory abilities when damaged. Concluding that neuronal inflammation from the disease (along with other stressors) is decreased, researchers found that participants feel more positively when singing together. Additionally, participants reported calmer and more relaxed states with group singing. This can be physiologically explained by raised oxytocin levels (oxytocin is a bonding-related hormone) and measured in lowered blood pressure, heart-rate, and cortisol (stress) levels than when not singing. While Parkinson’s Disease is projected to double within the next two decades, therapeutic treatment is expected to improve an individual’s overall quality of life. The effects of singing discovered in this study can be offered as an addition to therapeutic practices for the disease. Furthermore, the detrimental effects of other neurologically-related diseases can be studied and improved using this strategy.

Information Integration
As we have previously discussed in class, Parkinson’s Disease is a result of miscommunicated signals to the brain. The reason for this occurrence is unknown, but can be understood with respect to information we have learned about the onset of disease in most psychology courses. With the knowledge that Parkinson’s is minimally based in genetics, it is therefore understood that environmental influences are largely responsible for its presence. In my Psychology of Ageing class, I learned that external influences include being aged 60+ and exposure to harmful pesticides, with anxiety being commonly characteristic. As we have already learned in this course, Parkinson’s originates as a gut-based disease and pesticides can destroy the gut bacteria containing our primary anxiety/stress inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA. This could possibly influence the onset and severity of Parkinson’s and factor greater reactions to stress, accompanied by elevated blood pressure and heart rate. With these ideas, and the findings of this study, what are the implications for the world of therapy? How impactful will the knowledge of engaging in group song be for the treatment of other neurological diseases?

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 15, 2018 at 4:21 PM

    It makes sense that there would be a relationship and potential connection between singing and the improvement of Parkinson's disease. As we learned in class, the Basal Ganglia is deeply impacted by this disease. We learned about the relationship between dopamine levels and the basal ganglia. If people are singing and assumingely happier because of it, it makes sense that the areas of the brain that is heavily impacted by dopamine and also Parkinson's disease would be impacted. I would be interested to hear further research regarding the relationship between dopamine levels and Parkinson's disease as they relate to brain activity in the Basal Ganglia.

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  2. James ClarkNovember 15, 2018 at 5:20 PM

    This appears to be a similar idea to the concept; if you don't use it you will lose it". This provides information in a class in a recent semester where it talked about how important social contact is. Similar to what the summary of the article is saying the idea was the same. We as humans were designed for human contact. While this seems like a simple concept this idea appears to provide further evidence for that claim. Positive mood enhancing hormones like endorphins are being released which fight off stress. Thus promoting more of a need for more bonds. Similar to the rule in the "Brain Rules" book the idea of exploration is seen at play here. We are designed to get out and explore. Friendships and bonds appear to be to no exception when fighting off harmful diseases like Parkinson's disease.

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  3. UnknownNovember 15, 2018 at 8:48 PM

    there have been other researches that saw singing as a treatment for diseases such as Alzheimers. I think singing is great therapy as it releases dopamine. There seem to be a closely related link between music and brain disorders. would be great to see more research in that field

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