Biomedical Music Solutions

Mark A. Carlson, MD has spent years caring for elders living with Parkinson’s, dementia, and other neurological conditions - and through that work, he’s witnessed how music can reach patients and families in ways medicine alone often cannot.

On the Listening With Hope podcast, Dr. Carlson joins host Hope Young alongside Tom Smith for a heartfelt conversation about music’s role in healing, connection, and quality of life. Over the past decade, his appreciation for music as therapy has deepened - not only in clinical care, but at home as well, inspired by his 16-year-old twin daughters, Lacey and Addison, who have embraced music in ways that surprised him.

From supporting elders through illness to nurturing connection across generations, this conversation reminds us that music meets us exactly where we are - and carries us forward.

“Music remembers what the brain forgets.”

Ray Benson's mom had gone through several strokes. She was brilliant, but she’d always been tone-deaf - she couldn’t carry a tune to save her life. Then one day, Ray plays “Battle Hymn of the Republic” on guitar… and suddenly she starts singing along. In tune. Every word. Every note.

It was like the music unlocked a part of her that the strokes couldn’t touch.

Moments like this remind us why music is so powerful -
why it connects, heals, and brings people back to themselves in ways nothing else can.

Can music ever hurt the brain? Hope Young & Dr. David Morledge explain why not all sounds heal—and why music must be used with intention.

Music that evokes negative emotions or painful memories — especially in patients with dementia — can sometimes do more harm than good.

Overly loud or chaotic music, like heavy techno, can overstimulate the brain, just like a crowded room overwhelms the senses.

And yes… maybe punk rock isn’t always the best first choice for therapy

This conversation highlights the importance of using music intentionally — not just for entertainment, but as a science-backed tool for healing, focus, and emotional wellbeing.

Music has power. The key is learning how to harness it.