Music therapy is a type of intervention involving music in several capacities and includes both participants and therapists who have completed an accredited music therapy program. The forms of music therapy are broad, and can range from individual or group singing sessions, to active participation in music making, to listening to songs individually. In populations living with Alzheimer's, music therapy becomes a highly used way to help alleviate the behavioral and psychological symptoms of this disease. Music therapy is based on scientific findings and can lead to changes in individuals and groups through music. Personal music therapy has been shown in some cases to be able to reduce certain symptoms, including behavioral symptoms and those associated with dementia. Music therapy, as compared to pharmacological treatments, is a low-cost solution to help manage aspects of the disease throughout disease progression.
Video Music therapy for Alzheimer's disease
Recent Research
Music therapy has been studied in psychological communities and has been shown to be effective in reducing behavioral symptoms as well as positively affecting emotional and cognitive well-being. In one study, Alzheimer's patients in 98 nursing homes were exposed to music therapy and the effects of music therapy compared to 98 controls not exposed to music therapy. The results show that this program helps reduce the use of drugs, in combination with the reduction of dementia and behavioral and physiological symptoms. This is the first empirical study to show that the Music and Memory program, described below, has effectiveness in reducing antipsychotic and anxiolytic drugs using behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. In addition, other studies found that music therapy was found to have a calming and relaxing effect in patients. Certain neurotransmitter levels, such as norepinephrine and epinephrine, have a significantly higher rate after four weeks after music therapy Music therapy has also been found to help slow language degeneration.
Similarly, a study was conducted that had Alzheimer's patients at a nursing home facility assigned to one of three activities: playing a puzzle, painting, or listening to music from young patients. When tested six months later, those who listened to music were more vigilant and in a better mood and recalled their own personal events when compared to groups painting or playing with puzzles.
Research has even shown that Alzheimer's patients may be able to learn an entirely new music. The Alzheimer's patients were taught the original song by the group leader and during the three sessions, there was a noticeable increase and increased alertness among Alzheimer's patients. Studying new songs is possible.. In addition, other studies found similar results and found that Alzheimer's patients when asked could recall new songs and songs taught to them. They found that with regular exercise, Alzheimer's patients could actually learn new music.
In addition, qualitative studies summarized 21 studies conducted since 1985 on those with Alzheimer Disease and the effects of music therapy. The study is varied in nature, but the authors conclude that music therapy can be a successful intervention and can improve cognitive and emotional behavior, as well as reduce some of the behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer's Disease. While methods vary in nature, convergent evidence in various experiments provides optimism for the validity of music therapy in this subset of the population.
Limits with Research
However, some current research does not support the fact that all musical memory is preserved in patients with Alzheimer's disease. A paper reviewing eight case studies and three group studies, found that certain types of music memory such as remembering familiar music from youth may not be preserved. However, Alzheimer's patients are musicians, music memory is more preserved than those without previous musical experience. This study shows that music therapy may not be effective in the same capacity for every Alzheimer's patient, and the difference may vary widely in nature. The study also highlights that there are major methodological differences in different types of research, providing difficulties for synthesizing information and study design. This study highlights an important understanding with this research, as most of them do not have a control group so drawing a causal conclusion becomes impossible. Other studies that have synthesized previous research concluded that the methodology with the ten studies they investigated were too short-term and varied in nature to make concrete or useful conclusions.
Maps Music therapy for Alzheimer's disease
Music & amp; Memory Program
Music programs have generally been investigated as a more formal and structured way to reduce cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease. The most widely used is the Music and Memory Program. The Music and Memory program and its efficacy have been studied by psychologists. The Music and Memory (M & M) program developed by Dan Cohen in 2006 helps to raise awareness and efficacy of music therapy in relation to Alzheimer's and other related dementia. This program helps provide nursing homes interested in the United States with iPods to help harness the power of music to reduce behavior and stimulate memory.. Music & amp; The Memory program has been tested in 12 states and California, Texas, Ohio, and Wisconsin already have state-sponsored projects. Certification to become a Certified Care Institution "Music and Memory" can be obtained and peer-to-peer training and support is provided by Music & amp; Nonprofit Organization Memory.
The Power of Music
Music affects many areas of the brain including those associated with the emotional and creative areas have the power to evoke emotions and memories from a distant past, so it is understandable that Alzheimer's patients can remember musical memories from previous decades given the richness and clarity of this Memory The memory of music can be maintained for those living with Alzheimer's Disease and giving birth through various music therapy techniques. The area of ​​the brain that is affected by music is one of the last parts of the brain that is degenerating in the development of Alzheimers' Disease.
Alzheimer's patients can often remember the songs from their youth even when deep in the progression of their disease. Dementia facilities use music as a means of entertainment, because it often brings joy and bring memories. Alive Inside explains that music activates more parts of the brain than other stimuli and records itself in our movements and emotions. This film illustrates that this is the last part of the brain touched by Alzheimer's.
Music therapists have the ability to develop relationships and bond with their patients, especially through recurring sessions. Music can help with adjustments to unfamiliar environments and settings that trigger memories from a distant past. These sessions can often lead to uncontrollable emotions, as evidenced by the patients described And highlight Cohen at a nursing home in Alive Inside. One patient documented at Alive Inside has been using walkers for years, and while listening to songs from his teenage years can dance without the use of walking aids.
Popular Media
Alzheimer's disease has been discussed in popular media. The 2014 film Alive Inside follows patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and shows how music can be used as a means of music therapy to relieve suffering and pain. The film highlights the impact music can have on those who can not communicate in the traditional way, and the power that music plays, especially from one's youth. Alive Inside won an Audience Award for the U.S. Documentaries, played at the Sundance Film Festival. Responding to the film , the Alive Inside Foundation, founded in 2010, is growing in popularity. The foundation's motto is "Empathy Revolution" and aims to connect youth and adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease, especially through music. The purpose of this foundation is to organize music through the iPod form into every nursing home across the United States.
In addition, the Alzheimer's Association provides a list of parenting tips for people with Alzheimer's family and friends. They stated that music therapy has been found to improve cognition and can help caregivers better treat those affected by Alzheimers.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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