- We’ve all felt that moment when a single song unlocks a vivid memory, lifts us from frustration to elation, or unites a group of strangers with a familiar chorus.
Music holds power — and at NIU, faculty and students are harnessing that power to redefine care for adults living with, or at risk for, dementia.
“Music is a powerful way to elicit engagement and emotion,” NIU Professor Jamie Mayer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, said. “For people living with dementia, the power of music is even more intense, because music stimulates the parts of the brain that tend to be spared — deep areas involved with emotion, emotional memories, and motor function — even very late in the disease process.”
Thanks to funding from Northwestern Medicine’s community grant program, Mayer and NIU students bring music, art, and other engaging activities to residents of DeKalb-area retirement communities and memory care centers through NIU’s Music & Memory program.
What may appear to be simple activities are, in fact, hands-on research and learning. Through these experiences, students explore how social connection and nonpharmacological approaches can improve cognitive function in individuals living with dementia — a range of neurodegenerative conditions that impair memory, language and learning.
Mayer, who teaches in the School of Allied Health & Communicative Disorders, founded Music & Memory in 2018, now a recognized student association, and serves as its faculty supervisor. Originally based on the national Music & Memory non-profit model, NIU’s program began with a focus on music. But thanks to Mayer’s habit of saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities, it has since expanded to include personalized memory books, an error-free art group, and an interactive BrainFit Academy for healthy older adults.
“Dr. Mayer is a trailblazer in creating research opportunities for students to engage meaningfully with individuals with dementia and with the aging community,” said Tertia “Abby” Jeppson, ’15, M.A., ’17, Mayer’s former student and now a research speech-language pathologist.
Jeppson has recently returned to NIU to pursue a Ph.D. in health sciences while continuing to work at the Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
“Our research has shown that intergenerational, strengths-based programming is beneficial for adults at risk for or living with dementia, as well as for students,” Mayer said.
Students who join Music & Memory receive training in dementia fundamentals and coaching to enhance their confidence and comfort when engaging with adults affected by dementia.
Liza Buhr, ’22, CF-SLP, was on the Music & Memory board as an undergraduate student. She said the program taught her to show compassion and built her confidence to work with patients’ families and other clinicians.
“Dr. Mayer’s research challenges the misconception that individuals with dementia can no longer participate in anything meaningful,” Buhr said. “I interacted with several patients’ family members, and being able to offer them a tangible, low-stress way to connect with their loved ones through music was truly invaluable.”
Mayer leads her research through the Brain Resilience through Active Communication and Engagement Lab, where students assist with data collection and analysis. Early insights from the lab laid the groundwork for Music & Memory and continue to guide its evolution.
“We use a combination of behavioral methods including observation, cognitive-linguistic testing and self-report to measure functional communication, cognition and quality of life prior to, during and following program participation,” Mayer said.
Speech-language pathology graduate student Jamie Ward, ’24, said her undergraduate research experience with the BRACE Lab equipped her with essential skills —collaboration, leadership, communication, and the ability to build meaningful connections.
“It also deepened my commitment to a career centered on helping others, directly shaping my path and preparing me in ways I’m truly grateful for,” she said.
Students may participate in either the BRACE Lab or Music & Memory, or both. For students like NIU graduate student Viviana Cortes, their experience is often transformative.
“One of my favorite moments was during the holiday choir, when even residents who rarely spoke were able to sing along and share family traditions, creating a sense of joy and connection,” she said. “I was set on working in pediatrics, but after working with Music & Memory, I developed an interest in aging care. I want to support the older population and contribute to their quality of life.”
Mayer has watched students translate their experiences into graduate research, clinical practice and everyday life, bringing deeper empathy and innovative thinking. With continued support from grants and donors, this research not only advances dementia care but also fosters compassion and engagement among students towards aging adults, their loved ones and the broader community.
For Cortes, Music & Memory has been one of her favorite programs on campus.
“It is intrinsically motivating to see the direct impact that students can have on the lives of these residents and their families; and it’s changed how I think about care and how I show up for others,” she said, reflecting on how the program shapes hearts, opens minds and strengthens communities.
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