MUSIC THERAPY MAY IMPROVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS between people with dementia and their caregivers.

Dementia is a broad spectrum of disorders that impact an individual’s ability to think, remember, make decisions, and communicate with others.

The condition is often progressive, rendering it challenging for those with dementia to interact and communicate with those around them; social engagement can be remarkably challenging. This problem can strain relationships between individuals and those who care for and about them.

Today we briefly explore how music therapy can reduce caregiver distress by improving social interactions for those with dementia.

Music therapy

While music-based psychosocial interventions may represent effective management tools for behavioral symptoms among those with dementia, there are not many studies looking at music therapy and social engagement.

A recently published study shows that music therapy interventions may improve social interactions between people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

The new research is a proof-of-concept study evaluating the effectiveness of the so-called Musical Bridges to Memory (MBM) intervention on persons with dementia’s behavioral symptoms, social engagement, and associated caregiver distress.

The researchers recruited individuals with dementia from two memory care facilities. The interventions included active engagement from caregivers.

Researchers used a 12-week intervention called musical bridges to memory (MBM). The intervention included an assessment of musical preferences among the clients and baseline assessments of social behaviors and dementia severity.

Caregivers had training, and participants enjoyed live 45-minute concerts (with breakout sessions after the events). Music therapists encouraged interactions during the concerts and led the breakout sessions.

Researchers performed follow-up assessments, including behavior evaluation, obtaining caregiver feedback, and a neuropsychiatric symptoms questionnaire.