Durham therapist tames Parkinson's disease symptoms with music

People with movement disabilities like Parkinson's disease or stroke often find themselves isolated from the world -- but this music therapist believes tunes can help unlock mental and physical barriers.

"I tell my people to leave Parkinson's outside," laughed Dorita Berger, Ph.D, who teaches classes next to the Beth El Synagogue in Durham.

Marti Miller enjoys Berger's music therapy class, but it's really for her husband Tom, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

"Dori's a lot of fun, and everybody here is engaged," said Miller.

"[Berger] explained to me that music and muscle control are very close in the brain," said Rick Shepherd, another Parkinson's patient.

It's about forcing the brain to develop new neurons to help with movement and to help with cognition," said Berger, adding that movement with rhythm is the key to help both the brain and the body.

"Not very many activities can do what music can do."

Berger's music therapy class is free. In March, the class will move to Durham's Campus Hills Park located at 2000 S. Alston Avenue.