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Cognitive and behavioural effects of music-based exercises in patients with dementia
Ann Van de Winckel1, Hilde Feys, Willy De Weerdt
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. ann.vandewinckel@flok.kuleuven.ac.be
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of a musical exercise programme on mood state and cognitive function in women with dementia.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Public Psychiatric Hospital Rekem, Belgium.
Patients:
Twenty-five patients with dementia.
Interventions:
Fifteen patients attended exercise training for three months, which consisted of daily physical exercises supported by music for 30 min/session. They were compared with a group of 10 control patients, who received an equal amount of attention through daily conversation.
Main Measures:
The effect on cognition was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test 6 (ADS 6). Behaviour was evaluated with the abbreviated Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale (BOP scale). The assessments were made before, after six weeks of intervention and immediately after the three-month experimental period.
Results:
The exercise group showed a significant improvement in cognition. This was documented by an increased MMSE mean score of 12.87-15.53, and by a higher median score, rising from 10 to 14 points, on the subset 'fluency' (ADS 6 test). The control group showed no significant improvement, either on the MMSE (mean score of 10.80-11.00) or on the fluency subtest of the ADS 6 (median scores were 6.5-7 points). The effects on behavioural changes were not significant.
Conclusion:
The present study suggests a beneficial effect of cognition using a music-based exercise programme in a group of patients with moderate to severe dementia. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
