The American Music Therapy Association

In this research paper, the effectiveness of music therapy on the cognitive degenerative disorder of dementia will be evaluated. To support the contention that music therapy is effective in treating the symptoms of dementia, research documenting this therapy’s impact on memory, emotions, and behavior will be examined. In order to provide a greater understanding of music therapy and dementia, these terms will be defined. Second, research will be examined to determine music therapy’s impact on the psychological and behavioral issues associated with dementia. Finally, a summary of music therapy’s benefits and an evaluation of its effectiveness in treating individuals afflicted with dementia will be discussed.

The director of the documentary, Michael Rossato-Bennett, furthermore teaches the viewer on the effects of musical stimuli on our brains, and how music and its effects can remain for patients with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia in a stage where other skills such as cognitive and motor have already

As shown in Henry’s case, music therapy has significant benefits for dementia patients, with regard to both physiological and intellectual perspectives. Following his case, the author goes on to discuss music therapy from general viewpoint. According to the American Music Therapy Association, “Music therapy is the planned and creative use of music to attain and maintain health and well being” (Mattews, 2015). This definition is open ended, which illustrates that music therapy is not only restricted for treating dementia, but also designed for variety range of population, including autism, anxiety disorder, and mental disorder patients. Furthermore, Matthews says that music has four aspects which contributed to music therapy: “communal nature of its delivery, the rhythmic quality of composition, the entrancing effect of music’s mood, and the physiological arousal accompanying listening” (Matthews, 2015). Especially, people with dementia more likely to recall the rhythm, melody of music that they used to listen when younger. Thereupon, the power of music plays meaningful role to health care setting.

Among them are creative therapies such as music therapy that has been found to improve cognition, memory, self-consciousness, and dementia. A study conducted by Rylatt (2012), examined the benefits of creative therapy for people with dementia. Participants were invited to take part in dance, drama, music and movement activities. Participants displayed enhanced communications, showed pleasure and enjoyment, improved engagement during activities, showing a positive response to creative therapy in individuals with dementia. Creative therapy was found to have useful result on the wellbeing of individuals with dementia. Music therapy is specific form of Creative therapy that encompasses many different techniques and administered by qualified music therapists who mediates treatment according to different patients based on the psychological and rehabilitative approaches. Music therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention that can reduce cognitive decline, improve neuropsychiatric symptoms, and enhance the quality of life of people living with Alzheimer’s disease (Fang, Ye, Huangfu, & Climag, 2017). It has been particularly beneficial for patients with dementia with improving disruptive behaviors, reducing anxiety and depression, improving cognitive functioning, increasing confidence, and positively change mood and emotional

Dementia is an extremely common disease among the elderly, with 4 million Americans currently suffering from the Alzheimer’s type alone. Figures show that 3% of people between the ages of 65-74 suffer from the disease, rapidly increasing to 19% for the 75-84 age bracket, and as high as 47% for the over 85s. Therefore, it is easy to see why Dementia is such a large part of many people’s lives, whether they are suffering from the condition themselves, or have an elderly relative who requires full time care just to undertake simple day to day tasks. The disease can be extremely traumatic for the patient and their families, as the person, who may have been extremely lively and bright throughout their

A comprehensive literature review with sufficient depth and breadth was included in this quantitative study. A variety of previous researchers has provided evidence for the long-term effects of the music therapy on dementia patients and on their general recreational effects. According to Raglio et al 2010, it has illustrated that music therapist potentially implements musical parameters such as tempo, mode for activating social interaction, and well-being in older dementia patients finally described that physiological catecholamines, cytokines have profound effect on autonomous nervous system when stimulated by music. Casby et al 1994 have described that musical invention causes changes in the agitated behaviors in older dementia patients. Previous literature has profoundly described about the long term effects and physiological effects with

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was any significant difference between the effects and usefulness of music therapy compared to general activities, on reducing agitation in people with dementia. The study was also used to determine if music therapy warranted any immediate effects on symptom improvement, as opposed to solely long-term effects.

Dementia is the loss of cognition function. This condition is rapidly becoming a huge challenge as well a leading cause of mortality and morbidity of the 21st century, especially in the western world, and the current prediction rates of dementia indicate that it will worsen. The numbers of the individuals affected by the condition is anticipated to rise due to the ever expanding older population. Despite the menace of this condition, the power of music, particularly in singing to jerk or unlock past memories and kick start the grey matter of the brain is an incredible feature of dementia care. Using music seems to reach parts of the damaged patient’s brain in unique ways that other means cannot (Geretsegger et al. (2014). In senior adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other mental disorders, music therapy has shown capability of reducing agitated or aggressive behavior, improve cooperation with day-to-day activities such as bathing, improved mood, and reduce symptoms of dementia. Besides, music therapy can reduce the

As the great Billy Joel once said, “I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music (as qtd. in Bordowitz 53).” It has become so easy to access music, that in today’s world almost everyone listens to it, but we never stop to think about how therapeutic it can be. Music provides people with entertainment, lets them express themselves freely, and can alter their mood. Alzheimer’s disease progressively destroys a patient’s memory and thinking skills. It prevents them being able to perform tasks that a normal person would call easy. The use of musical therapy and its effects and works on Alzheimer's patients may be

Evidence based practice shows that music has had many positive effects on those with dementia when used as a form of treatment. In fact, some of the benefits that have resulted from music therapy are currently unachievable by other interventions. Music therapy is defined as “controlled use of music and its influence on the human being to aid in physiological, psychological and emotional integration of individual during treatment of an illness or disability” (Sung, Lee, Chang & Smith, 2011). Patients with advanced dementia display a variety of unfavorable behaviors that are unpleasant and difficult to

Therefore, picking music that a person with Alzheimer’s listened to frequently during their younger years has resulted in strong responses from these patients – meaning that the music provokes them to show more signs of engagement with external stimulants. This also means that in order to create new forms of response in Alzheimer’s patients, new and unfamiliar music should be used because it has not yet been tied to any old memories. In addition to varying familiar and unfamiliar music when trying to conjure various positive responses in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, it is also beneficial to vary stimulating and sedative music genres. Stimulating music can help “promote movement” or “activate” patients. For example, playing faster tempo music during dinner could help prevent the patient from falling asleep at the table. Sedative music, or music with slower tempo, calmer rhythm, and little percussion, is good for relaxing the patient during activities that are usually agitating for them, or when they are trying to sleep. However, opposite responses may occur depending on the associations that the patients may have formed in their memories with the specific music (Clair).

There are many different ways that we benefit from music. Music can inspire better self-esteem, and confidence. It’s a great way to set the mood, and a wonderful tool. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (Gram, 2005). Music therapy can reach out to anyone, age, race, gender it doesn’t matter. Children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs can benefit from music therapy. As well as, those who have developmental and learning disabilities, those who suffer from Alzheimer's

Alternative methods of healing have been utilized by non-western medicine for generations. The use of acupuncture to heal everything from seasickness to muscle soreness is well documented and widely used. Physical therapy is often a precursor to surgery and many times will prevent the need to undergo a more invasive procedure. A lesser-known form of alternative healing but becoming more popular is music therapy. In the late 18th century, scientists began to investigate the effects of music on the human body; however, using music as a healing medium dates back to ancient times. There are many forms and techniques of music therapy that aid a variety of disabilities having to do with communication, behavioral issues, the autism spectrum,

According to the American Music Therapy Association (A.M.T.A.), music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” As a generally new and upcoming industry, music therapy is often underestimated. By incorporating different areas of the brain, music can reduce stress, ease

Aside from emotions, music can also have an impact on mental illnesses like ADHD, depression, and dementia. To combat depression, Cadena states that “music therapy alleviates pain and promotes calmness by slowing the heart rate and other bodily functions” (2). It provides the patient with a means of escape from the stressful and painful ordeals of life, and can even encourage them to recover from depression. To help children with ADHD, music therapy and medications can be used conjointly. Music, Cadena affirms, “can provide a calming, sedative affect and assist a child with focusing on the task at hand” (2). In regards to dementia, a study was done to investigate the effects that music would have on people with the disease. The findings demonstrated that “mean agitation levels were significantly lower while listening to music than before listening to the music” (3).