Medicine Music can get people with Parkinson's moving
From Mani Matter to the Bee Gees: music can alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. According to a study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, melodies and rhythms can improve the mobility, motivation and mood of people with Parkinson's disease.
12.01.2026, 09:15
SDA
Even if the music only takes place in the head. "For some patients, it even helped to imagine the lines of a song to get out of a freeze," project leader Dawn Rose was quoted as saying in a press release issued by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) on Monday.
A "freeze" is a typical symptom of Parkinson's disease. It refers to a sudden block in movement in which those affected stand still as if frozen.
Pacemaker and mental signal
Music was used in two ways for the study: On the one hand, it served as an external rhythmic cue, for example when walking. On the other hand, the participants learned to call up music internally and use it as a mental signal - a kind of "inner jukebox" that can support movements or release blockages.
The Parkinson's sufferers gave feedback as experts for their own bodies. According to the HSLU, one participant reported that she imagines music from her youth when walking, which helps her to walk steadily. The study also found that music can increase the drive for activity, which is often dampened in Parkinson's, and improve mood.
To make changes in movement measurable, the researchers also used motion capture technology from the film industry.
Helpful music varies
Which music helps differs depending on the person and the symptom. According to the HSLU, marching music can help people to find and keep time when walking. Learning the haka, a warrior dance from the Māori culture in New Zealand, on the other hand, can improve facial expressions and vocal strength.
The researchers collected the songs that helped those affected in different ways in playlists. The playlist for walking includes "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees and "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by Monty Python. The list of mood-lifting music includes "Glöggelä" by Trauffer and "D'Nase" by Mani Matter.
