Music Therapy and The Benefits for Dementia Patients

Music Therapy and The Benefits for Dementia Patients Samuel Buyers Texas Tech University

Thesis Statement �While past research has speculated that music therapy improves dementia patients functioning, current research indicates that music therapy is an effective method in behavioral and cognitive functions in dementia patients.

Behavioral � Sato Ashida, Ae-Na Choi, and Alfredo Raglio found that music therapy slightly changed behavioral (depression, psychological, agitation) functions in elderly patients in their research results. � therapy “provided participants a safe place to interact socially, to share their memories with other residents, and to improve self-image” (Ashida 180). � These researchers found that elderly patients with depression within the treatment group “were significantly improved in the musicintervention group” but those who could not verbalize “express[ed] more by drumming louder and longer” (Choi 475, Ashida 179). � every researcher has doubts about the benefits because of a “lack of randomization” and that “the participants improved moods were not retained long after the sessions” (Choi 479, Ashida 178).

Cognitive � Each found that the patients receiving musical therapy were improving but researchers also saw that although cognitive functions may have been improving; “it is unclear whether the purported effect of music on language production is directly or indirect via short-term memory activation” (Brotons and Koger, 191). � a three month long research study and found that the “speech content and fluency… were better following music therapy than conversational sessions with a therapist” (Brotons and Koger, 190). � “those with musical backgrounds received more cognitive benefits with music therapy” (Omar, 474). � Brotons, Koger, Omar, and Ueda recognize the importance of further research in the cognitive functions and how it is affected during music therapy sessions. The development of cognitive functions during therapy is a key aspect in proving the effectiveness of the growing non-pharmaceutical music therapy for dementia patients.

Long-Term Effects � patients were not only improving their mood but over time music therapy “is effective in preventing cardiac and cerebral diseases” (Takahasi 331). � that although a change was occurring, “there was no significant differences between the two groups” (Ledger and Baker, 335). � Yet, despite each authors view about how the long-term music therapy can be useful, both authors agree that long-term behavioral/cognitive improvements were being made due to music therapy. They both suggest that longer research studies need to be planned to further look at the full benefits available for music therapy.

Conclusion � After looking at past and current studies regarding music therapy and the main research elements that affect dementia patients, research leans towards behavioral and cognitive as the most effected areas during therapy � the research of music therapy and its effects has allowed researchers to better look into music therapy on patients instead of pharmaceutical treatments.

Works Cited � Ashida, Sato. “The Effect of Reminiscence Music Therapy Sessions on changes in Depressive � � � � Symptoms in Elderly persons with Dementia. ” Journal of Music Therapy, Vol. 27 Issue 3 (2000): 170182. EBSCO. Web. 13 June 2014. Brotons, Melissa and Susan Koger. “The Impact of Music Therapy on Language Functioning in Dementia. ” Journal of Music Therapy, Vol. 27 Issue 3 (2000): 183 -195. EBSCO. Web. 13 June 2014. Choi, Ae-Na Et. Al. ‘’Effects of Group Music Intervention on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Dementia: A Pilot-Controlled Trial. ’’ International Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 119 Issue 4 (2009): 471 -481. EBSCO. Web. 14 June 2014. Ledger, AJ and FA Baker. “An investigation of long-term effects of group music therapy on agitation levels of people with Alzheimer’s disease. ” Aging & Mental Health, Vol. 3 Issue 11 (2007): 330 -338. EBSCO. Web. 22 June 2014. Omar, Rohani Et. Al. “Semantic Memory for Music in Dementia. ” Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 29 Issue 5 (2012): 467 -477. EBSCO. Web. 13 June 2014. Raglio, Alfredo Et. Al. “Listening to music and active music therapy in behavioral disturbances in dementia: A crossover study. ” Jounral of the American Geriatrics Society, Vol. 61 Issue 14 (2013): 645 -647. EBSCO. Web. April 2013. Takahashi, Takiko and Hiroko Matsushita. “Long Term Effects of Music Therapy on Elderly with Moderate/Severe Dementia. ” Journal of Music Therapy, Vol. 43 Issue 4 (2006): 317 -333. EBSCO. Web. 13 June 2014. Ueda, Tomomi Et. Al. “Effects of Music Therapy on Behavioral and Psychological symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” Ageing Research Reviews, Vol. 12 Issue 2 (2013): 628 -641. EBSCO. Web. 15 June 2014.