Music therapy taps into long-term memory, which remains intact longer than short-term memory in dementia patients.

"One of our patients struggles to recall much from his past. He has Dementia. However, whenever he listens to songs in his mother tongue, it boosts his mood and reconnect with his memories," Neha Sinha, Dementia Specialist, Psychologist, CEO & Co-founder of Epoch Elder Care told me recently.

This made me wonder if music can really help elderly patients with complex neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, Dementia and Multiple Sclerosis. Turns out that it can. While it does not specifically treat them, music definitely helps stabilize symptoms, fostering emotional well-being and improving the quality of life for patients.

Music And Memories To Treat Physical Symptoms

Behavioural challenges, such as aggression, anxiety, and social disinhibition, are common in patients with Dementia. Music therapy addresses these issues by creating a calming atmosphere and making them more open to treatment. "Listening to or engaging with music can soothe anxiety, regulate sleep patterns, and encourage them to be more receptive to assistance in performing their activities of daily life (ADL) more comfortably. Moreover, Reminiscence therapy, which helps recall events and discuss past events to improve their well-being, is known to be profoundly effective in treating such conditions.

Music therapy also taps into long-term memory, which remains intact longer than short-term memory in those suffering from Dementia. Familiar tunes or songs from childhood can stimulate certain neural connections, particularly if they are in their mother tongue. This soothes their anxiety, provides comfort and even prompts them to engage in social conversations.

Additionally, music therapy aids motor coordination, which is particularly helpful to those with Parkinson's. Incorporating rhythmic movements like walking or light dancing to music can improve muscle relaxation and enhance motor abilities. While there is no direct evidence linking music therapy to alleviating physical symptoms, its positive impact on mood and cognitive function makes patients more receptive to medical treatment.

Music Therapy Has Shown Significant Benefits

Healing with music is believed to date back to ancient Greece when music was used in an attempt to cure mental disorders. Throughout history, music has been used to boost morale in military troops, help people work faster and more productively, and even ward off evil spirits by chanting.

Music therapy does not involve specialists in most cases. It involves:

• listening to music
• singing along to music
• moving to the beat of the music
• meditating
• playing an instrument

A simple five-factor risk score may help identify people at high risk of dementia, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where around 60% of the world's dementia cases now occur.

Developed and validated by researchers at Northumbria University, the risk score uses five everyday factors to identify older adults at higher risk of dementia. It aims to address a gap in dementia research, as existing prediction tools have largely been developed using data from high-income countries and may not work as well in lower-income settings.

The research team developed the model using data from more than 11,000 older adults across seven countries and three continents.

“We know the burden of dementia is shifting towards lower-income parts of the world, yet the prediction models clinicians and researchers rely on were designed with wealthier populations in mind. This model is a step towards changing that. It is simple, it is built for the settings where it is needed most, and it gives researchers a practical way to find the people who should be the focus of future studies and trials,” said Dr Eduwin Pakpahan, from Northumbria University's Applied Statistics and Data Science Research Group. The study is published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

What Are The Five Factors Used To Predict Dementia Risk?

Also read: WHO's New Dementia Guidelines Prioritize Healthy Habits, Warn Against Supplements

The model can be applied using information gathered through a straightforward conversation with an older adult and, where relevant, a family member or carer. It does not require blood tests, brain scans or specialist equipment.

The five factors included in the risk score are:

• Age: The strongest single predictor. Dementia risk rises meaningfully from age 70 and more steeply from 80 onwards.
• Social engagement: This includes whether a person is married or living with others, how often they meet friends or family, and whether they participate in community or religious groups.
• Physical activity: The model considers how active a person is in daily life, across both work and leisure. Everyday movement, such as farming, walking to the market or doing household tasks, also counts.
• High blood pressure: Uncontrolled hypertension can damage the blood vessels supplying the brain over time. It is common, often undiagnosed in lower-income settings, and inexpensive to manage.
• Difficulty managing money: A family member or carer is asked whether the person has experienced a noticeable change in their ability to handle finances. This can be one of the early everyday signs of cognitive change.

How Does The Dementia Risk Score Work?

Each factor contributes points towards a total score ranging from 0 to 9. A person scoring 0 has around a 1% chance of developing dementia within three years, while someone scoring 9 has a nearly 19% chance.

The researchers built and tested the model across seven sites in China, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico and Peru. It achieved a performance score of 0.75, above the 0.70 threshold generally regarded as clinically useful.

However, the researchers emphasise that the tool is primarily intended for research rather than routine screening of the general population. It could give researchers and clinical trial teams a practical, low-cost way to identify and recruit people at higher risk of dementia.

The team has also called for the model to be validated in regions not covered by the study, particularly South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Read More: Dementia Is More Than Forgotten Birthdays, Lost Keys: Doctors Explain Early Signs Before Memory Loss

Why Is A Dementia Risk Prediction Tool Important?

Dementia affects more than 57 million people worldwide, with around 60% of cases occurring in LMICs across Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa.

Identifying people at higher risk could help researchers in these regions plan studies and clinical trials that better reflect their populations. A simple tool based on everyday information may also make risk assessment more accessible in settings where specialised diagnostic resources are limited.

From Independence Day and Janmashtami to Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam, Eid, Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, Christmas and New Year, the period from August to January means celebrations across the country. However, some can also suffer from stress, loneliness and worsening of pre-existing mental health symptoms.

In India, festivals can provide connection, cultural continuity and family bonding. However, celebration is not positive for everyone. For some, the period can lead to issues such as social pressure, loneliness, grief, financial concerns and even interpersonal conflict. Festive periods can be challenging for the general population, while people with pre-existing mental health conditions may be vulnerable to worsening symptoms, increased sensitivities or relapse.

Festivals carry an expectation that everyone should be happy. People are expected to participate, dress up, attend gatherings and appear enthusiastic. Though some may experience anxiety, burnout, depression or emotional exhaustion, maintaining this expected level of participation can become another source of stress. Emotional wellbeing does not automatically change because it is a festival. Recognising this can reduce guilt and self-criticism.

Family Gatherings And Emotional Sensitivities

Festivals frequently bring extended families together. While this can strengthen relationships, it can also reactivate longstanding interpersonal dynamics. Questions about marriage, children, career, finances, appearance or personal choices can become uncomfortable, particularly when they touch existing vulnerabilities.

For someone who has experienced criticism or comparison within the family, a seemingly casual festive comment may carry considerably more emotional weight because of the history attached to it. The festive setting can therefore bring individuals into closer contact with relationships or unresolved issues that they may otherwise have greater distance from.

Also read: Excessive Screen Time & Mental Health: Expert Urges Parents To Limit Children's Screen Time At Times Health Summit 2026

Why Clinical Populations May Be More Vulnerable

For individuals already living with a mental health condition, the festive season can introduce several stressors simultaneously. Travel, disrupted sleep, irregular meals, increased social stimulation, financial pressure, family conflict and interruptions to established treatment routines can place additional demands on psychological functioning.

People with conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, trauma-related conditions, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, eating disorders or other psychiatric difficulties may be more sensitive to these changes.

In individuals with a history of recurrent episodes, significant disruption may also contribute to relapse. Festivals themselves do not necessarily cause relapse. Rather, the accumulation of environmental, interpersonal and behavioural stressors can increase vulnerability in someone already at risk.

Changes from an individual's usual baseline such as significant alterations in sleep, appetite, mood, anxiety, irritability, impulsivity, social withdrawal or functioning can therefore be important early warning signs.

Grief Can Become More Visible

Many traditions are built around shared experiences: preparing food, decorating homes, travelling to family members, exchanging gifts or gathering for meals. When someone important is no longer present, familiar rituals can make their absence more noticeable.

This can occur during religious festivals as well as occasions such as Independence Day or New Year, when people naturally reflect on their lives and relationships. Participating in a celebration does not mean grief has disappeared, just as sadness during a celebration does not eliminate the capacity for joy.

The festive season can also place pressure on household finances. Clothing, gifts, travel, home decoration and social events can increase expenditure over several months. For those already experiencing financial uncertainty, this can create considerable stress.

People living alone, those estranged from family, individuals experiencing relationship difficulties, older adults and people who have recently relocated may become more conscious of social isolation during this period. New Year can be particularly challenging because social expectations around parties, relationships and celebration become highly visible.

Also read: Can Mental Health Improvement Help Lower High Blood Pressure? Study Points Towards 3 Habits

Indians Living Abroad: Culture, Belonging and Homesickness

Celebrating Diwali, Eid, Navratri, Onam, Christmas or Gurpurab away from India can provide an important connection with cultural identity and family traditions. At the same time, it can highlight physical distance from parents, siblings and extended family.

A person may attend a community celebration abroad while still missing the food, sounds, neighbourhood atmosphere and family rituals associated with celebrations in India. Those unable to travel home may experience increased homesickness, particularly when several major occasions occur within a short period.

Festivals Can Be Difficult For General Population Too

Feeling tired, overwhelmed, irritated, lonely or emotionally sensitive during a demanding period does not automatically indicate a psychiatric disorder.

Even psychologically healthy individuals can experience festive stress because of travel, social obligations, financial commitments or difficult family interactions.

Making The Festive Season Psychologically Sustainable

• Set boundaries around intrusive questions: “I’d rather not discuss that today” or “We’re comfortable with where things are right now” can end conversations about marriage, children or finances without confrontation.
• Decline invitations without over-explaining.
• A smaller number of meaningful gatherings may be preferable to trying to attend every event.
• Decide spending limits for gifts, travel and celebrations in advance rather than responding to social pressure.

For those receiving mental health care, prescribed medication, therapy and established support systems should not be casually disrupted during the festive period.

Curated festive content represents selected moments, not the entirety of another person's life.

Professional support becomes particularly important when festive stress is accompanied by persistent hopelessness, severe anxiety, substantial social withdrawal, changes in sleep or appetite, increased substance use, impaired functioning or other marked behavioural changes.

The goal is not to remove complexity from celebration, but to make space for it. Allowing people to experience the festive season without the pressure to feel festive can itself be an important form of psychological care.

By Ms Dhara Ghuntla, Psychologist/Psychotherapist, Sujay Hospital, 7 Hills Hospital & Criticare Hospital

As Delhi wakes up to another spell of deteriorating air quality just days ahead of Diwali, ophthalmologists warn that dust, smoke, particulate matter, and toxic gases can affect children's eyes, triggering redness, itching, burning, excessive watering, and dryness.

On Tuesday, India's national capital's average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 331 at 7 am, entering the ‘very poor’ category. At the same time, eight monitoring stations recorded readings above 400, falling in the ‘severe’ zone, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

As per data from the CPCB, 33 of the city's 58 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels in the ‘very poor’ category. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have forecast that air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category over the coming days.

“Children’s eyes are more sensitive to irritants in the environment, and exposure to pollutants, particulate matter and toxic gases can irritate the surface of the eye,” Dr Shibal Bhartiya, Clinical Director – Ophthalmology and Program Director – Community Outreach and Wellness at Marengo Asia International Institute of Neuro and Spine (MAIINS), told HealthandMe.

Also read: Supreme Court Allows Green Crackers In Delhi-NCR Ahead Of Diwali: Are They Really Safe For Your Health?

How Does Air Pollution Affect Children's Eyes?

The experts warned that exposure to pollutants and particulate matter can irritate the surface of children's eyes, causing redness, itching, burning, excessive tearing and dryness.

Dr Neepa Thacker Dave, Senior Consultant in Paediatric Ophthalmology at SRCC Children's Hospital, told HealthandMe that the eye’s surface is protected by a delicate tear film that provides lubrication, maintains clear vision and helps defend against environmental irritants. Exposure to airborne pollutants can disturb this protective layer and contribute to ocular surface irritation and inflammation.

"Excessive watering does not necessarily mean that the eyes are adequately lubricated. Irritation can trigger reflex tearing even when the tear film is unstable. Consequently, children may experience watering alongside dryness or discomfort," she said.

Further, children with existing allergies or sensitive eyes may notice their symptoms worsening during periods of high pollution.

“Long-term exposure to poor air quality may also worsen pre-existing ocular surface conditions,” Dr Bhartiya said.

How Can Parents Protect Children's Eyes From Air Pollution?

Read More: Rising AQI In Delhi-NCR: Doctors Warn Of Lung And Heart Risks As Pollution Builds

Reducing children's exposure to pollution is important, particularly on days when air quality is poor.

Dr Bhartiya advised parents to:

• Avoid outdoor activities when pollution levels are high.
• Keep windows closed during periods of severe pollution.
• Encourage children to avoid rubbing their eyes.
• Ensure children wash their faces after coming indoors.

Dr Dave also highlighted the importance of greater awareness, reduced exposure and timely medical care in protecting children from pollution-related eye irritation and discomfort.

When Should Children See an Eye Specialist?

Dr Dave said children may not always have the vocabulary to describe eye discomfort. Parents and teachers should watch for frequent eye rubbing, excessive blinking, squinting, watering or reluctance to participate in reading and outdoor activities.

Parents should not dismiss eye irritation in children, particularly when pollution levels are high.

Although mild irritation may improve when exposure is reduced, recurring or persistent symptoms warrant an eye examination. Eye pain, significant sensitivity to light, blurred or reduced vision, marked redness or difficulty opening the eye require prompt medical attention.