The American Music Therapy Association

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

Music therapy is not a person with Alzheimer’s listening to his or her favorite songs on an iPod with headphones; however, music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music to improve physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Music therapy is only advocated in three states: North Dakota, Nevada, and Georgia. Because not many understand the value of music therapy, it is not advocated in many other states. The goals and accomplishments of music therapy should be acknowledged; people will then realize that music therapy really works. Music therapy should be advocated throughout the states because it is effective, and it improves the lives of people in emotional and physical pain.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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).

Some researchers use music therapy in a group setting, while others focus on individualized one-on-one sessions. In a 2013 review for the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, McDermott acknowledges group therapy’s effectiveness in encouraging “social interaction between group members, thus reducing social isolation and assisting in communicating feelings and ideas” (782). Although valuable as a way for patients to express themselves and remain socially active even if the ability to speak has been lost, this form of music therapy is not particularly conducive to memory stimulation because the music must be generalized and – as such – will not spark a meaningful connection with all patients. Consequently, some researchers emphasize customizing music for each patient if the treatment’s goal is to help them more effectively remember lost memories and delay the progression of AD. Summarizing the findings from his 2014 interviews, McDermott

I was fascinated by a study completed by Stanford University investigating the cognitive activity displayed during transition points of a symphony using fMRI. The study concluded that music causes the brain to pay attention as it was clear that the parts of the brain that became more active are involved in concentration. My initial research, investigated the health benefits of listening to music which includes improved visual and verbal skills as well as pain reduction and a boosted immune system. My research was published in ‘A Student’s Anthology’ and I was invited to present my findings at Cardiff University, a talk entitled ‘For Body and Mind; Music Matters.’ Inspired by this, I am interested in the development of music therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s

Music Therapy is an entrenched health profession in which music is used within a currative relationship to address emotional,cognitive, physical, and social needs of individuals. After appraisning the stamina and needs of each patient, the certified music therapist provides the designated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. By involving music as in a therapeutic context, the patients healths have improved and strengthened. Music therapy also provides boulevard for communication that can be helpful to

Needle pricks, medicine, exhaustion, sickness, pain, feeling different ‒ these are just a few of the things that people with mental disabilities and serious diseases have to go through on a daily basis. But what if there was a different kind of treatment that could comfort them or reduce their pain even a little bit? Fortunately, for the people facing these issues, there is. Music therapy is a relatively new approach that doctors, teachers, and many others are taking to help heal and improve the quality of life for their patients and students. It’s starting to become more common around the United States and is expected to become even more popular in the future. Books like Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart support the idea of music therapy by demonstrating how music can be used to soothe and improve the moods of individuals regardless of what they may be going through. Music therapy is an effective way to speed up the healing process and improve the emotional state of a wide range of people facing different obstacles in life.

Music therapy, a clinical use of music interventions to accomplish therapeutic goals, involves a broad range of activities including playing an instrument, singing, or listening to music. Similar to occupational and physical therapy, this expressive arts therapy remedies psychological conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or hypertension to maintain the well-being of an individual. Likewise, music has been a therapeutic tool that has shown positive effects to parts of the brain including regions involved in emotion, sensation, movement, and cognition. Although music therapy is a somewhat new-found treatment, it is used prominently today. Administered by a trained therapist, this type of therapy is used in correctional facilities, nursing homes, hospices, and special education schools.

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).

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,