Ken and David McCluskey, brothers and members of the Scottish band the Bluebells, have opened up about their late mother’s battle with dementia. The band, best known for their 1984 number one hit "Young At Heart," shared how music played a significant role in coping with the challenges of the disease during their mother Teresa’s later years.

Teresa McCluskey was diagnosed with dementia in her early 90s, when signs of memory loss began to emerge. The family turned to music—a shared passion handed down from their parents—to maintain a connection with her as the illness progressed. Ken McCluskey, the group’s frontman, recounted how their family gatherings were marked by singing sessions featuring songs from iconic folk and singer-songwriter artists such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, the Dubliners, Kris Kristofferson, Christy Moore, and Luke Kelly.

“Our parents were real folkies,” Ken said, describing how the family parties required everyone to participate in singing. Teresa was active in these gatherings, even playing the harmonica, and was able to hold her own among the musical performances.

The brothers reflected on how they remembered the songs their mother sang at these family events, using them as a way to engage her and provide comfort despite the progression of dementia. Teresa, a mother of five, lived into her 90s before passing away, leaving behind a legacy not only of family but also of the music that helped sustain her spirit.

The McCluskeys’ experience underscores the potential of music to offer emotional support and a form of communication for those affected by memory-related illnesses, helping to maintain personal connections when language and cognitive abilities decline.