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

The life of a woman can be called a cycle of various physical and hormonal changes occurring at particular points throughout life. From menstruation at puberty up to menopause, there will be numerous changes experienced by the female body, which can bring about consequences for her physical and psychological well-being.

Being a healthcare professional, I should mention that although medication is sometimes unavoidable, there is no point in neglecting alternative ways, including yoga.

Yoga Can Help Women

Yoga is an exercise that involves asanas, pranayamas, and meditation. There is now scientific evidence indicating that yoga aids in coping with certain conditions in women. It achieves this by positively influencing the neuroendocrine, autonomic nervous system, and stress responses.

A significant number of women are victims of menstrual conditions such as dysmenorrhea, PMS, abnormal menstrual cycle, and heavy menses during their reproductive age. The conditions may become worse due to stress, since it affects hormone levels.

Yoga reduces the amount of congestion in the pelvic area, increases blood flow, increases body flexibility, and reduces stress hormones such as cortisol. Consequently, most women have painless and psychologically stable menstruation.

Yoga Can Improve PCOS Symptoms

Moreover, yoga can prove highly helpful in the case of women who are suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It is the most prevalent endocrine disorder that affects women of childbearing age.

The condition has insulin resistance, obesity, irregular menstruation, and metabolic conditions as its symptoms. Thus, yoga, along with healthy living, can provide some assistance in terms of improving insulin levels, maintaining weight, reducing stress, and balancing hormones.

Yoga in Pregnancy

Yoga has many advantages during pregnancy. It will ensure good posture, decrease lower back pain, increase flexibility, improve breath control, and prepare the body for delivery. In addition, prenatal yoga helps with dealing with emotional and mental issues related to pregnancy, which will have a positive effect on the mother and her baby.

Yoga During Perimenopause And Menopause

With the onset of perimenopause and menopause, the reduction in levels of estrogen is known to cause side effects like hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, exhaustion, aches in the joints, and thinning bones. All these factors have significant impacts on both the daily life activities and the emotional state of women.

The research shows that yoga may be helpful in overcoming the symptoms of menopause through relaxation, improvement in sleep, muscle strengthening, and better handling of emotions. Breathing techniques and meditation help in lowering stress and positively influencing the mental state of patients.

Apart from the specific diseases that yoga can alleviate, it promotes self-awareness, which plays an important role in managing one’s emotions. Nowadays, women tend to have a large number of duties, such as working, taking care of children, and doing housework. Chronic stress leads to many diseases, for instance, high blood pressure, obesity, heart issues, and psychological problems.

For all phases of female development, from menstruation until menopause, the emphasis should be on not just the treatment of diseases but the maintenance of wellness. While yoga cannot replace medical care, it remains an important supplement that aids in achieving physical fitness as well as mental and spiritual well-being. Through regular yoga practice, a woman will develop her resilience and become stronger in every phase of life.

(By Dr. Ruchi Bhandari, Director- Obstetrics & Gynecology, Yatharth Hospital, Noida)

Yoga can act as a "polypill" by addressing multiple underlying factors that contribute to lifestyle diseases, according to Dr. Rima Dada, Professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who has been studying yoga and its impact on lifestyle disorders for the past 20 years.

Speaking about her research, Dr. Rima said yoga is a profound science, technology, and art of living that can tackle factors that set the stage for a wide range of diseases.

Yoga May Benefit Multiple Health Conditions

According to Dr. Rima, yoga can help address conditions including hypertension,

• coronary artery disease,
• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),
• unexplained male factor infertility,
• primary open-angle glaucoma,
• autoimmune diseases,
• rheumatoid arthritis,
• Alzheimer's disease.

• accelerated ageing,
• shorter telomeres,
• persistent activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis,
• a dysregulated immune system,
• high levels of stress and anxiety,
• inflammation,
• oxidative stress.

Yoga's For Oxidative Stress And Inflammation

Also read: Yoga Enriches Every Aspect of Life, From Fitness to Inner Peace, Says PM Modi

Dr. Rima said evidence-based studies conducted by her team have shown that yoga addresses these underlying factors.

According to the findings, yoga reduces oxidative stress by increasing the expression of various antioxidants. It also improves mitochondrial health and reduces free radicals produced as by-products of ATP production.

The studies further showed that inflammation decreases because the expression of genes coding for anti-inflammatory factors increases, while the expression of genes that promote inflammation declines.

Yoga May Support Brain Health

The research also found that yoga increases the expression of genes involved in DNA repair. In addition, yoga promotes parasympathetic dominance, resulting in increased rest, repair, and digestion.

Dr. Rima said yoga also positively modulates the epigenome and increases the expression of factors beneficial for overall health. She noted that yoga promotes brain health, improves mental well-being, and enhances the production of factors associated with neurogenesis in key areas of the brain. These changes may help improve memory and build emotional resilience.

Gut-Brain Axis and Immune Health

Read More: Trying to Quit Tobacco? Yoga Could Improve Your Chances, Suggests Study

Dr. Rima said yoga has also been shown to improve gut microbial flora, helping maintain the integrity of the gut-brain axis.

According to her, this supports the secretion of factors that help maintain immune, endocrine, and mental health.

Yoga Is An Entire Lifestyle

Emphasizing that yoga extends beyond physical postures, Dr. Rima said it is an entire lifestyle that includes diet, asanas, pranayama and dhyana.

She said yoga and asanas help bring the body into proper geometry and alignment, while also improving flexibility, range of motion and neuromuscular coordination.

This alignment, she explained, enables more effective breathing. Nasal inhalation and exhalation activate certain areas of the brain that promote a state of relaxed wakefulness.

Yoga Is The Need of The Day

Dr. Rima said effective breathing increases blood flow to the brain and raises nitric oxide levels, which help improve circulation while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

"Thus, yoga is a polypill and is the need of the day," she said.

Heavy menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids and other gynecological conditions is a major but often overlooked contributor to anemia among Indian women, said Dr. Roma Sinha, Chief Gynecologist and Director of Gynecological Robotic Surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, today.

Speaking at the Times Network India Health Summit 2026 at Hyderabad, Dr. Sinha highlighted how many women normalize excessive menstrual bleeding and delay seeking medical attention, often leading to severe anemia and a reduced quality of life.

Fibroids And Heavy Bleeding Behind Anemia

According to Dr. Sinha, it is not uncommon for women to visit her clinic with hemoglobin levels as low as five or six grams per deciliter.

"Most of the time, it is not nutritional anemia. Women lose so much blood during their menstrual cycles that they are unable to rebuild their hemoglobin levels," she said.

While national programs such as Anemia Mukt Bharat focus heavily on pregnant women, Dr. Sinha pointed out that anemia occurring during other stages of a woman's life often goes unnoticed.

She said many women learn from family members and friends that heavy bleeding is "normal" and simply continue to suffer without seeking treatment.

Also read: Violence Against Doctors Is A National Concern, Says IMA Dilip P. Bhanushali

Fatigue And Poor Quality Of Life

Beyond the underlying disease, Dr. Sinha emphasized the impact heavy menstrual bleeding has on women's daily lives.

"Many women think they are tired because of stress, work, or family responsibilities. But often it is low hemoglobin and iron deficiency causing that fatigue," she said.

The expert noted that a simple hemoglobin test can help diagnose anemia, yet many women continue to prioritize the health of their families over their own well-being.

Lack of Awareness

Dr. Sinha identified lack of awareness and negligence as two major reasons why women delay medical consultations.

"Heavy bleeding occurs only for a few days every month, so women tend to tolerate it and move on. Many don't realize that it is treatable and that ignoring it can lead to dangerously low hemoglobin levels," she said.

The expert stressed the need for greater public awareness and open conversations about menstrual health.

"It should not be a taboo to talk about heavy menstrual bleeding," she added.

Surgery Not The Only Treatment Option

Read More: Childhood Obesity Is A 'Do or Die' Crisis, Experts Warn

A common fear among women, Dr. Sinha said, is surgery. Many patients avoid consultations because they assume treatment will automatically mean a hysterectomy —the surgical removal of the uterus— after which pregnancy is impossible, the top gynecologist said. However, she clarified that surgery is not the only option available for fibroids.

"Fibroids are largely benign tumors. Women today have choices, including medical management, non-invasive treatments, myomectomy, or hysterectomy, depending on their individual needs and preferences," she said.

The expert added that modern technologies such as robotic surgery have significantly improved outcomes for women requiring treatment.

Dr. Sinha also highlighted long-term research conducted on women who underwent robotic surgery for fibroids.

"We followed patients for ten years and found that 86.3 per cent conceived and delivered successfully after surgery," she said.

The findings, she noted, should reassure younger women concerned about fertility after fibroid treatment.

Early Diagnosis

Read To Know: AI Cannot Replace Doctors, It Can Only Complement, Says Dr Santosh Sivaranjani

While early detection cannot eliminate fibroids completely, Dr. Sinha said it can prevent severe anemia and improve overall quality of life. "Current treatments can control symptoms and act as bridge therapies, helping women avoid complications and delay more definitive treatment when appropriate," she explained.

'Don't Ignore Heavy Bleeding'

In her message to women, Dr. Sinha urged them to listen to their bodies and seek help when they notice abnormal menstrual bleeding.

"If you feel your periods are heavier than normal, don't ignore it. Get a simple hemoglobin test and consult a gynecologist," she said.

Dr. Sinha also called on families, particularly men, to support women in seeking care and to pay attention when they complain of persistent fatigue or excessive menstrual bleeding.