Music Therapy for Older Adults With Cognitive Decline Living in Care Homes

Summary

This research aims to investigate whether the use of music-improvisation therapy for older adult participants can lead to improvements in cognitive ability levels, especially in attentional functions. Very relevant reviews highlight studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of Music Therapy training. However, only a few are based on randomised criteria and structured methodological approaches. This affects the generalizability of findings, as to whether Music Therapy interventions are effective in improving cognitive functions, mood, and quality of life of people with cognitive decline.

In order to make a difference, there is a need for more studies that are structured \[i\] according to rigorous empirical criteria (namely involving random assignment of participants to activity groups), \[ii\] and that gather scientific evidence, based on both standardized cognitive tests and biomarkers (hormones: Cortisol, or stress hormone, and DHEA or aging hormone; brain signal, EEG; Physiology: Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia).

In this RCT study, the investigator investigated the effect of 4-month music therapy vs Storytelling program for older adults with cognitive decline, living in care homes.

Conditions

• Cognitive Impairment
• Cognitive Decline

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Music Therapy

Weekly individual (one2one) Music Therapy intervention lasting 4 months (n=16 sessions). Behavioral: Music Therapy Music therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention, in which music and its elements are used professionally as an intervention in medical, educational, and everyday environments with individuals, groups, families, or communities who seek to optimize their quality of life and improve their physical, social, communicative, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health and wellbeing. This therapy has been shown to provide significant benefits for individuals with cognitive decline living in care homes, enhancing social-cognitive functions and reducing behavioural symptoms (Brotons \& Koger, 2000; Hsu et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2017).

BEHAVIORAL

Storytelling

Weekly individual (one2one) Storytelling intervention lasting 4 months (n=16 sessions). Behavioural: Storytelling is a non-pharmacological activity, in which a professional activity coordinator reads different stories (e.g., poems, novels) to the participants and used them to initiate a possible conversation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Methodist Homes for the Aged

  collaborator OTHER

• Middlesex University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anthony Mangiacotti, PhD · Middlesex University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-02-01

Primary Completion

2019-08-28

Completion

2019-08-28

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations