Communication improvement reduces BPSD: a music therapy study based on artificial neural networks

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Music therapy is recognized for improving behavioral disturbances, cognitive functions, and quality of life in dementia patients.
• Relational active music therapy specifically targets reducing behavioral disturbances by enhancing communication, particularly non-verbal cues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore baseline characteristics predicting positive outcomes in dementia patients undergoing music therapy.
• To investigate the relationship between behavioral disturbances and improvements in communication within the therapeutic intervention.

Main Methods:

• Utilized linear correlation and semantic connectivity maps to analyze 27 variables from 70 patients with moderate-severe dementia.
• Assessed predictive variables for response and complex connections between clinical factors and the relational aspect of music therapy.

Main Results:

• The Barthel Index was the primary predictor of positive response, followed by Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) sub-items like Disinhibition and Depression.
• Improved communication/relationship was directly linked to being a 'responder,' also associated with younger age, higher Mini Mental State Examination scores, and female sex.

Conclusions:

• Active music therapy is appropriate for reducing behavioral disturbances in dementia.
• Unsupervised artificial neural networks can support clinical practice by identifying predictive factors and understanding intervention outcomes.