Effectiveness of individualized music listening on functional and cognitive status in advanced Alzheimer's disease

Individualized music listening, linked to personal memories has been suggested as a supportive nonpharmacological approach but its effects in advanced-stage patients are not well-established. This study aimed to investigate the effects of individualized music listening on cognitive and functional status in individuals with advanced-stage Alzheimer's disease.

In this study 54 patients were randomly assigned to an individualized music listening intervention group (IMLIG) or a control group (CG). The IMLIG listened to personally meaningful music, while the CG listened to Shostakovich's Jazz Suite No. 2, 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Cognitive and functional outcomes were assessed using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), functional independence measure (FIM), clock drawing test (CDT) and frontal assessment battery (FAB) at baseline, week 6 and week 12.

The results showed significant improvements in mental status and cognitive functions in the IMLIG (p < 0.05), while functional independence declined despite the intervention (p < 0.05). The CG demonstrated only limited cognitive changes and no improvement in functional independence.

These findings suggest that individualized music listening provides short-term benefits for cognitive awareness and visuomotor skills but could be insufficient to counter the progressive functional decline of Alzheimer's disease.