FORT WAYNE, INDIANA -- Music as medicine? The Fort Wayne Philmarmonic is performing several free concerts to see if the music helps people with Parkinson's.
The orchestra, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Physicians Health Plan want to find out if live music has a positive effect on the disease’s symptoms.
"One of our Phil chorus members, who has Parkinson's, whose tremors stop when he goes to the concerts, they start back up at intermission, and they stop again in the second half," explains J.L. Nave, the Philharmonic's president and CEO.
About 30 people suffering with the disease will come and listen. Before, during and after the concert, they’ll fill out a survey about their symptoms.
The group is hoping the music makes a difference.
"We may find that it's just relaxation or focusing that makes the symptoms go away," Nave states. "The possibility of what we may discover and that the Fort Wayne Philharmonic may have a hand in that is really exciting, and we're all anxious to see where this study might take us."
Concerts will be held once a month in January, February and March.
