Music Therapy in Alzheimer’s Treatment Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia, it’s a tragic disease that deteriorates memory, and causes issues with thinking and behavior. No cure has been found, but there have been multiple studies over how music eases the effects of this horrible disease.
The majority of people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease show signs of psychiatric distress and in many cases a range of abnormal behavioral patterns can appear in the later stages of the disease. Most of the time the symptoms of Alzheimer’s will tend to be episodic over progressive. The symptoms can show a decreased well-being of the person, impairment in quality of life, and become a heavy burden on the people caring for them. Most …show more content…
Non-pharmaceutical treatment receive much less attention than pharmaceutical treatments, mostly because of the lack of reliable research done on the subject. The research in this field has been done on a very limited number of subjects and case reports. Due to the variability in non-pharmacological methods, Grassel (2003) stated that: “A fundamental evaluation of the therapeutic benefits of non-drug therapies in the treatment of dementia cannot yet be made.” Music therapy on the other hand is a non-pharmacological treatment that has shown to have some positive effects on patients with Alzheimer’s …show more content…
Music therapy has been recorded throughout centuries as a credible form of healing. Plato and Aristotle both have prominent writings about the philosophy of music. Homer recommended music to counter mental distress, and Asclepiades of Bithynia is said to have recommended music for backache and other physical discomforts. It is said Democritus prescribed various melodies, and Pythagoras is said to have clinically used music for anxiety. Roman physician Galen, who was greatly respected during his time and modern times as well, used music in his healing repertoire. Among other therapies, Galen would prescribe a medical bath with soft soothing music playing in the background to treat nerve pain. Paracelsus, who was a famous sixteenth century physician from Switzerland, was a strong believer in music therapy as well would recommend colors, herbal-remedies, and music to achieve well-being. Plato and Aristotle both suggested music therapy was beneficial for the people in general and healing of their society.
Studies done. A study published in the Journal of Music Therapy, 2000, assessed the effects of music therapy on language. Twenty-six people participated in either music therapy or a discussion group in which images were used to stimulate conversation. The authors of the study concluded: “our results suggest that music therapy interventions may positively influence the speech content and fluency in people affected by DAT (dementia of the Alzheimer’s type).” They were cautious
The majority of people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease show signs of psychiatric distress and in many cases a range of abnormal behavioral patterns can appear in the later stages of the disease. Most of the time the symptoms of Alzheimer’s will tend to be episodic over progressive. The symptoms can show a decreased well-being of the person, impairment in quality of life, and become a heavy burden on the people caring for them. Most …show more content…
Non-pharmaceutical treatment receive much less attention than pharmaceutical treatments, mostly because of the lack of reliable research done on the subject. The research in this field has been done on a very limited number of subjects and case reports. Due to the variability in non-pharmacological methods, Grassel (2003) stated that: “A fundamental evaluation of the therapeutic benefits of non-drug therapies in the treatment of dementia cannot yet be made.” Music therapy on the other hand is a non-pharmacological treatment that has shown to have some positive effects on patients with Alzheimer’s …show more content…
Music therapy has been recorded throughout centuries as a credible form of healing. Plato and Aristotle both have prominent writings about the philosophy of music. Homer recommended music to counter mental distress, and Asclepiades of Bithynia is said to have recommended music for backache and other physical discomforts. It is said Democritus prescribed various melodies, and Pythagoras is said to have clinically used music for anxiety. Roman physician Galen, who was greatly respected during his time and modern times as well, used music in his healing repertoire. Among other therapies, Galen would prescribe a medical bath with soft soothing music playing in the background to treat nerve pain. Paracelsus, who was a famous sixteenth century physician from Switzerland, was a strong believer in music therapy as well would recommend colors, herbal-remedies, and music to achieve well-being. Plato and Aristotle both suggested music therapy was beneficial for the people in general and healing of their society.
Studies done. A study published in the Journal of Music Therapy, 2000, assessed the effects of music therapy on language. Twenty-six people participated in either music therapy or a discussion group in which images were used to stimulate conversation. The authors of the study concluded: “our results suggest that music therapy interventions may positively influence the speech content and fluency in people affected by DAT (dementia of the Alzheimer’s type).” They were cautious