Research
How can music influence the impaired memory capacity of younger individuals living with dementia? What impact does the atrophy of cognitive functions have on their sense of identity and self-image? Could a resource-oriented approach to musicking be applied as a health-promoting tool that offers new possibilities for agency within an otherwise restrictive existence? My doctoral project explores these pressing questions through a theoretical framework grounded in narrative identity theory, music psychology, neurobiological theories of music cognition, and a salutogenic approach to health research. The memory-inducing qualities of music are examined in light of narrative identity theory, with particular attention to the everyday memory challenges faced by younger individuals with dementia. The potential practical implications of targeted musicking in this context have not yet been explored in parallel with narrative identity theory, which I regard as a theoretical gap of considerable significance for the lived experiences of those affected by dementia. The aim of my research is to address this gap by providing new insights into how musicking may serve as a sustainable environmental intervention and an accessible resource to support the identity and quality of life of younger people living with dementia.