People are constantly exposed to music. Whether in the car, in the elevator or in the waiting room of a doctor's office, almost everyone listens to some type of melody or song every day. Can you imagine your life without music? Although listening to music is a common phenomenon, most people know little about how it affects the mind and body. Music can be used to create specific atmospheres, elicit certain emotions, and promote community and connection. By understanding the beneficial effects music has on our minds and bodies, we can use its powers to facilitate healing. One way that music, even simple, consistent rhythms, can be used to strengthen the body and mind is through music therapy. In this type of therapy, music is used to stimulate certain parts of the brain to improve cognitive function and change behavior. Some of these brain regions include the visual cortex, cerebellum, and motor cortex. Music therapy may involve therapeutic listening to certain songs or playing a particular instrument. In both cases, participants usually express feelings of happiness, relaxation, and ease. Music therapy has been helpful for people suffering from autism, anxiety, stress and insomnia. The following article will explore how music therapy has been beneficial to the human immune system and to people with acquired brain damage and Alzheimer's disease. Each of the studies provides good evidence to support music therapy as a means of alleviating physical and psychological problems. . As more research is conducted to further solidify the potential of music therapy, the chances of it becoming a widely accepted form of medical treatment increase. One effect music can have on biology is to improve... middle of paper... ... sleep, behavior, attention, and aging. [ADD SENTENCE]Normally, melatonin levels are low during the day and generally high at night. High levels of melatonin signal the body that it's time to go to sleep. But because serum melatonin levels decline with increasing age in humans, older people tend to wake up and fall asleep earlier than normal. Since patients with AD are typically older individuals, music therapy helps normalize this hormone. This allows patients to achieve better quality sleep and improve behavior. Music therapy can have long-term effects as the elevated serum melatonin levels persist even after the therapy sessions end. Similarly, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels also increased after music therapy, but ultimately returned to baseline levels after six weeks. [FINISH THIS SECTION][TALK ABOUT THE BIG IMPLICATIONS]