This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Van de Winckel, A. Articles by Dom, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Van de Winckel, A. Articles by Dom, R. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Cognitive and behavioural effects of music-based exercises in patients with dementia

Hilde Feys

Willy De Weerdt

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U.Leuven), Leuven, Belgium

René Dom

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

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.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 18, No. 3, 253-260 (2004)
DOI: 10.1191/0269215504cr750oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. G. McCaffrey The Effect of Music on the Cognition of Older Adults Undergoing Hip and Knee Surgery Music and Medicine, July 1, 2009; 1(1): 22 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Burgener, Yang Yang, R. Gilbert, and S. Marsh-Yant The Effects of a Multimodal Intervention on Outcomes of Persons With Early-Stage Dementia American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, August 1, 2008; 23(4): 382 - 394. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Sarkamo, M. Tervaniemi, S. Laitinen, A. Forsblom, S. Soinila, M. Mikkonen, T. Autti, H. M. Silvennoinen, J. Erkkila, M. Laine, et al. Music listening enhances cognitive recovery and mood after middle cerebral artery stroke Brain, March 1, 2008; 131(3): 866 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Netz, S. Axelrad, and E. Argov Group physical activity for demented older adults feasibility and effectiveness Clinical Rehabilitation, November 1, 2007; 21(11): 977 - 986. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. H.P. Eggermont and E. J.A. Scherder Physical activity and behaviour in dementia: A review of the literature and implications for psychosocial intervention in primary care Dementia, August 1, 2006; 5(3): 411 - 428. [Abstract] [PDF]