” Patients were able to connect with partners through music, a connection that was not available to them verbally,” said Bonakdarpour, an associate teacher of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine neurologist. Throughout the 45-minute musical intervention, an ensemble of chamber artists and a vocalist performed songs that appealed to the clients from their younger days. The clients and their caretakers got simple instruments such as tambourines and shakers to accompany the music. Specifically trained music therapists connected with clients during performances, getting them to beat on drums, dance and sing.
Patients were more socially engaged as evidenced by more eye contact, less distraction, less agitation, and an elevated state of mind.
It is currently approximated that Alzheimers impacts more than 6 million people in the United States alone.
According to the research studys lead author, Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour, the study is distinct given that it targeted both dementia clients and the caretakers who support them. Most of earlier research study on music therapy for dementia patients has just concentrated on the clients.
” Patients had the ability to link with partners through music, a connection that was not available to them verbally,” stated Bonakdarpour, an associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine neurologist. “The friends and family of individuals with dementia also are affected by it. Its agonizing for them when they cant get in touch with an enjoyed one. When language is no longer possible, music provides a bridge to each other.”
The research study was just recently released in the journal Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders.
Musical memory and processing are not as affected by Alzheimers.
Music memories often remain in the brain even as language and other memories vanish in dementia, Bonakdarpour stated. This is due to the fact that regions of the brain that are associated with musical memory and processing (e.g., the cerebellum) are not as affected by Alzheimers or dementia until much later in the illness course. Thus, patients can keep the ability to dance and sing long after their ability to talk has lessened.
How the research study worked.
In the study, people with dementia– homeowners of Silverado Memory Care (in a suburb of Chicago)– and their care partners were recorded on video conversing and engaging for 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after the intervention. Before playing the music, each patient/caregiver pair had training on how to communicate more effectively during the music.
During the 45-minute musical intervention, an ensemble of chamber artists and a singer carried out tunes that attracted the clients from their younger days. The patients and their caretakers received basic instruments such as shakers and tambourines to accompany the music. Specially trained music therapists interacted with patients throughout efficiencies, getting them to beat on drums, dance and sing.
A group discussion followed the music. Patients were more socially engaged as evidenced by more eye contact, less diversion, less agitation, and a raised mood. In comparison, the control group, which did not receive the intervention and were exposed to normal everyday care and programs, did not reveal such modifications within the exact same time frame.
The program consisted of 12 sessions over three months.
” All might associate with their enjoyed one”.
Prior to the intervention, some individuals would not interact much with their partners. During the intervention, they started to play, sing and dance together, which was a substantial change for the family. These modifications generalized to their habits outside the sessions too.
” As the program advanced, caregivers invited multiple member of the family,” said Jeffrey Wolfe, a neurologic music therapist-fellow at ITA and leader of the Musical Bridges to Memory program. “It became a normalizing experience for the entire household. All could relate to their loved one despite their degree of dementia.”.
The next step in the research study is to carry out the study on a larger group of patients. ITA and Northwestern have been moneyed by a three-year grant through the National Endowment for the Arts to expand this study.
Reference: “Musical Bridges to Memory: A Pilot Dyadic Music Intervention to Improve Social Engagement in Dementia” by Rhiana Schafer, BS, Aimee Karstens, Ph.D., Emma Hospelhorn, Ph.D., Jeffrey Wolfe, MM, Amanda Ziemba, MM, Peggy Wise, BA, Rickie Crown, Ph.D., Jenni Rook, BA and Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, 25 August 2022, Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders.DOI: 10.1097/ WAD.0000000000000525.
After the intervention, the clients had less stress and anxiety, depression, and agitation.
An unique music intervention fosters a psychological connection in between clients and their caregivers.
Dementia clients typically lose their ability to communicate verbally with liked ones as the condition progresses. A current research study by Northwestern Medicine and the Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) shows how this gap can be gotten rid of with a novel music intervention.
In the intervention, which was established at ITA and named “Musical Bridges to Memory”, a live ensemble plays music from a clients youth such as tunes from the musicals “Oklahoma” or “The Sound of Music.” According to the research studys authors, this constructs a psychological connection between a patient and their caregivers by enabling them to take part together in musical activities such as singing, dancing, and easy instrument playing.
In addition, the program improved patients social engagement and reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms consisting of agitation, stress and anxiety, and anxiety in both caregivers and patients.
