Rhythmic auditory stimulation as a potential neuromodulator for Parkinson's disease

Effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait speed in older adult inpatients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward: a pilot randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To assess the impact of gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on enhancing gait speed in older people admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward (CRW), compared to conventional gait training methods.

METHODS

The study was designed as a single-center, open-label, pilot, randomized, parallel-group study. Thirty older people admitted to CRW were divided into two groups: the experimental group, which received gait training with RAS (n = 15, females = 53.3%, mean age = 83.9, SD = 6.5), and the control group, which underwent usual gait training (n = 15, females = 60.0%, mean age = 81.3, SD = 8.4). Regardless of their assigned group, all participants underwent 30 min training sessions, five times a week, for 3 weeks. The primary outcome was the 10 m walk test (10mWT), and the secondary outcomes included the Medical Outcome Study 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the Japanese version of the modified Gait Efficacy Scale. All measurements were taken at baseline and again at week 3.

RESULTS

Results indicated that older people in CRWs in the experimental group showed significant improvements in their 10mWT (effect size - 1.02) compared to the control group. None of the secondary outcomes were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of a gait practice intervention using RAS in a CRW.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Registered 1 October 2022 (UMIN000049089).

The effects of musical instrument training on fluid intelligence and executive functions in healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Intervention studiescombiningcognitive and motor demands have reported far-transfer cognitive benefits in healthy ageing. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of music and rhythm intervention on cognition in older adulthood. Inclusion criteria specified: 1) musical instrument training; 2) healthy, musically-naïve adults (≥60 years); 3) control group; 4) measure of executive function. Ovid, PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Library online databases were searched in August 2023. Data from thirteen studies were analysed (N = 502 participants). Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2; Sterne et al., 2019). Random effects models revealed: a low effect on inhibition (d = 0.27,p = .0335); a low-moderate effect on switching (d = -0.39, p = .0021); a low-moderate effect on verbal category switching (d =0.39,p = .0166); and a moderate effect on processing speed (d = 0.47,p < .0001). No effect was found for selective visual attention, working memory, or verbal memory. With regards to overall bias, three studies were rated as "high", nine studies were rated as having "some concerns" and one was rated "low". The meta-analysis suggests that learning to play a musical instrument enhances attention inhibition, switching and processing speed in ageing.