Impact of Alzheimer's Dementia on Caregivers and Quality Improvement through Art and Music Therapy

How can Community Music Help Address Loneliness in Contexts of Social Marginalisation? Insights From Two Music for Social Connection Programs

This study explores how participatory music programs can help build social connection for people experiencing loneliness in contexts of social marginalisation. Loneliness is a growing, global public health issue with social and structural drivers. There is an urgent need to investigate innovative approaches to programming that go beyond opportunities for social contact to address the multiple domains of loneliness. Designed collaboratively with two social sector organisations in an urban context in Australia, this study presents outcomes from two community programs that involved groups of people experiencing or at risk of loneliness engaging in music together. Using a qualitative methodology that included semi-structured and brief interviews, focus groups and ethnographic observation, researchers identified positive shifts in relation to social loneliness (related to social contact), emotional loneliness (related to social bonds and meaningful connections), and existential loneliness (related to community connection and acceptance) for participants of the music programs. This study contributes to an urgent gap in understanding effective programming to support people experiencing loneliness and bolsters emerging evidence about the role arts can play in strengthening health, community and social sector efforts to address inequity.

Effect of Socialization on Alzheimer's Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disease where beta-amyloid plaques accumulate in the brain. Elderly individuals, especially those in nursing homes, were burdened by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this literature review is to describe the effectiveness of social engagement and how combating isolation can have a neuroprotective effect on individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease. We conducted a search in PubMed examining articles from 2010 to 2023 that discussed the impact of socialization on Alzheimer's disease, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our search terms were "Alzheimer's Disease + Socialization," "Social Isolation + Alzheimer's Disease," "Alzheimer's Disease + COVID-19," "COVID-19 + Social Isolation," and "Social Interventions + Alzheimer's Disease." Inclusion criteria consisted of patients ages 60 and older with Alzheimer's disease, mention of social isolation or engagement, and any relationship between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease. Exclusion criteria were defined as other dementias, non-social interventions, and the effects of different viruses on Alzheimer's disease. After the screening process, 30 articles were included, along with six articles that were suitable to the topic. Of the 36 total articles, 19 focused on an intervention involving socialization; eight explored the effect of social isolation during COVID-19 on patients with Alzheimer's disease; five articles examined social isolation as a risk factor for dementia; and four articles discussed the effect of socialization on Alzheimer's disease. A few studies reported that having a large social network can improve cognition and mood for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Studies reported that interventions such as volunteering, video calls, group art classes, animal interactions, and others produced positive outcomes in Alzheimer's patients, but not all were statistically significant. Our review found a consistent association between a socially integrated lifestyle and a decreased incidence of early-onset dementia. Although not all interventions were solely social, a strong social structure remained at the core of a healthy aging process.

Special Issue "Commemorative Issue Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America: Understanding and Treating Alzheimer's Disease"

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in older persons [...].

Inconsistent Music-Based Intervention Reporting in Dementia Studies: A Systematic Mapping Review

Background

Recent research has shown beneficial results for music-based interventions (MBIs) for persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), but reports often lack sufficient detail about the MBI methodology, which reduces replicability. A detailed checklist for best practices in how to report MBIs was created in 2011 by Robb and colleagues to remedy the lack of detail in MBI descriptions. The implementation of the checklist specifically in AD/ADRD research has not been established. Given the complexity of music and the variety of uses for research and health, specific MBI descriptions are necessary for rigorous replication and validation of study results.

Objective

This systematic mapping review utilized the "Checklist for Reporting Music-Based Interventions" to evaluate the current state of MBI descriptive specificity in AD/ADRD research.

Methods

Research articles testing MBIs and reviews of MBI efficacy published between January 2015 and August 2023 were scored using the checklist and the results were summarized.

Results

Forty-eight studies were screened, and reporting was inconsistent across the 11 checklist criteria. Ten out of 48 studies fully reported more than 5 of the 11 criteria. Only one of the 11 scoring criteria was at least partially reported across 47 of 48 studies.

Conclusions

Thorough reporting of intervention detail for MBIs remains limited in AD/ADRD MBI research. This impedes study validation, replication, and slows the progress of research and potential application of music in practice. Greater implementation of the reporting guidelines provided by Robb and colleagues would move the field of MBI research for AD/ADRD forward more quickly and efficiently.

Music Therapy in the Treatment of Dementia: A Review Article

The etiology of depression is the degeneration of the brain cells involved in cognitive function before the other brain cells. It is characterized by a neurological condition that causes a reduction in terms of physical, social, and cognitive impairment and has no cure presently. These nonpharmacological approaches, such as music therapy, enhance living outcomes for those dealing with dementia and also reduce behavioral incidence. Among these strategies is music therapy, and individual or gap-time psychological and educational counseling. Many scientists believe in the advantages of music for the brain. The brain is affected by music function and enhances some cognitive abilities, including the mechanism of speech, alteration, memory, and learning. Music can activate the limbic system, subcortical circuits, and emotionally related systems, inducing the sensation of well-being. The music itself is quite effective at increasing cerebral plasticity. Music therapy has powerful stimulation for neuroplastic alterations in the adult and developing brain. Dementia can be cured by music therapy and music-based intervention (nonpharmacological intervention) rather than by medication. This study highlights dementia therapy utilizing the music therapy method.

The effect of music therapy on cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The use of music interventions as a non-pharmacological therapy to improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients has gained popularity in recent years, but the evidence for their effectiveness remains inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize the evidence of the effect of music therapy (alone or in combination with pharmacological therapies) on cognitive functions in AD patients compared to those without the intervention.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane library, and HINARI for papers published from 1 January 2012 to 25 June 2022. All randomized controlled trials that compared music therapy with standard care or other non-musical intervention and evaluation of cognitive functions are included. Cognitive outcomes included: global cognition, memory, language, speed of information processing, verbal fluency, and attention. Quality assessment and narrative synthesis of the studies were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 8 studies out of 144 met the inclusion criteria (689 participants, mean age range 60.47-87.1). Of the total studies, 4 were conducted in Europe (2 in France, 2 in Spain), 3 in Asia (2 in China, 1 in Japan), and 1 in the USA. Quality assessment of the retrieved studies revealed that 6 out of 8 studies were of high quality. The results showed that compared to different control groups, there is an improvement in cognitive functions after music therapy application. A greater effect was shown when patients are involved in the music making when using active music intervention (AMI).

CONCLUSION

The results of this review highlight the potential benefits of music therapy as a complementary treatment option for individuals with AD and the importance of continued investigation in this field. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of music therapy, to determine the optimal intervention strategy, and to assess the long-term effects of music therapy on cognitive functions.

Effectiveness of Music Therapy in People Living with Dementia: An Umbrella Review Protocol

BACKGROUND

Dementia stands out as a neurological disorder which constitutes a progressive decline in cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning. However, non-pharmacotherapy, such as music therapy, can be combined with pharmacological treatment as a possible strategy to improve functionality regarding the cognitive and non-cognitive dimensions of people diagnosed with dementia.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze and synthesize published evidence regarding the effectiveness of music therapy in people diagnosed with dementia, concerning cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes.

DESIGN

Descriptive study protocol of an umbrella review.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

An umbrella review method will guide this study, focusing on an extensive search of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses reviews that include randomized controlled trials and other types of trials. Databases for the article search include ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) EBP database, and EBSCO Host platform (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, and CINAHL). Two reviewers will independently review all titles and abstracts and identify articles considering the inclusion criteria. Afterward, two reviewers will independently extract relevant information from each article for the characterization table, and evaluate the quality of selected articles using the Measurement Tool for Evaluating Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 guideline.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Data from this study will aid in designing healthcare workers' training courses, clinical intervention guidelines, and specific intervention protocols that support pharmacological interventions in treating dementia.

Effect of Music Therapy as a Non-Pharmacological Measure Applied to Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Systematic Review

The objective of this research was to learn about the effects of music as a non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention applied to Alzheimer's disease. To this aim, we evaluated its results regarding symptomatology and caregiver burden. Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. We searched Pubmed/Medline (NLM), Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane and Google Scholar, including articles from 1 January 2011-20 July 2021, using the keywords "Alzheimer´s disease", "Music therapy", "Caregivers overload", "Amnesia retrograde" and "Clinical evolution". To select the articles our criteria included complete text availability, quantitative research of an experimental nature and studies which, at least, figured in SJR or in JCR. Results: We found a relationship between the application of music therapy in patients with Alzheimer's disease and an improvement regarding symptomatology, as it smoothed down the progress of the disease. Using music therapy in Alzheimer's patients also led to a decrease in caregivers' burden and an increase in their well-being. Conclusions: Our results showed the benefits of music therapy, as it improved both patients' symptomatology and caregivers' burden.

Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review

Art therapy is used most commonly to treat mental illnesses and can aid in controlling manifestations correlated with psychosocially challenging behaviours, slowing cognitive decline, and enhancing the quality of life. Art therapy can help people express themselves more freely, improve their mental health, and improve interpersonal relationships. The basis of art therapy is established on the idea that people can recover and feel better via artistic expression. This review examines the current research on how active participation in the arts might improve mental health. A detailed literature search was carried out utilizing essential databases such as PubMed, the WHO's mental health database, and Google and Google Scholar. This review study looks into research done on art therapy and its potential advantages for adult mental health rehabilitation. It focuses on visual art therapy since it’s a key to reducing variation within the "creative arts" and defines the peculiar elements and effectiveness of art therapy used by mental health services. It was found that the use of art therapy as an adjunct treatment showed improved mental health in patients.