Re: Music and mood and Dementia

[Steve Beet <steve.beet@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Ross and Kevin,

While visting a care home recently I did notice very strong reactions to music in a few of the dementia patients. This included clapping and "singing along", especially with the more up-tempo songs. Surprisingly, given the level of cognitive and motor impairment which the patients exhibited in other contexts, most of these activities were largely in tune and in sync with the music. As much as one would expect from people of that age, at any rate!

The mood of the affected people was indeed very positive, so I would hypothesise that some sort of music therapy would indeed be very helpful to them. However, the rest (most) of the patients seemed largely unaffected, so I suspect that such therapy might not be universally effective.

I'm also unsure whether therapy which only consists of getting the patients to *create* music would be appropriate to all (I speak here as someone who has had a strong interest and appreciation of music all my life, but who has yet to sing a single note in tune or hold a beat). In my case at least, any attempt to get me to produce music would be doomed from the outset! For some dementia patients, I would suggest that music therapy based around music appreciation, rather than production, might be more effective.

Taking it one step further, I wonder whether a change in musical preferences, or listening habits in general, might be useful as a diagnostic indicator for this type of disease? I have observed this, but haven't conducted a scientific study, as it's not my field. Does anyone know whether this has been investigated?

All the best,


Steve Beet



On Fri, 9 Nov 2012 05:06:23 -0500
Kevin Austin <kevin.austin@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I have a colleague working with dementia patients providing them with music therapy. The work is largely based around composition and improvisation, in fact, almost exclusively. The client is engaged in imagery and visualization as the therapist suggests scenes [or moods]. Each member of the group [from 1 to 4] has a small percussion instrument to shake or hit. The therapist improvises a few notes and receives input as how to continue the contour and rhythm of the melodic phrase. Notes and rhythms are added, and the clients play along showing the beats. 'Accurate' participation is often in the 20 - 60% range.
> 
> The 'musicing' is mostly compositional / improvisatory / variational as it calls upon elements of musical memory. Each member [some with aphasia] indicates which part of the scene their contribution reflects - the sky, water, fields, sadness etc. My colleague treats music as a living organism, one which is in a process of continuous creation rather than an object to be observed from outside.
> 
> Hope this is of use.
> 
> Kevin
> 
> 
> 
> On 2012, Nov 8, at 1:06 AM, Ross Alexander Hendler wrote:
> 
> > On this subject I have a close family member that has developed a
> > severe case of Lewy Body Dementia. Occasionally he will hum melodies
> > and gets very emotional when doing so. He won't listen to the music he
> > used to enjoy because it makes him quite depressed. Does anyone have
> > any suggestions for any sort of music therapy techniques? I have a
> > feeling that in this case music could have the potential of profound
> > and positive feedback. Any feedback would be appreciated.
> > 
> > Ross
> > 
> > On Nov 6, 2012, at 9:48 PM, Peter Lennox <P.Lennox@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > 
> >> This was an interesting line of reading, thanks for that.
> >> 
> >> One thing that occurred to me: have any studies examined the relationship between intended emotion (in the composer/musician) and 'received emotion' (in the listener)? - in other words, has anyone characterised the extent to which music is (or is not) communicative, and if so, to what extent is it a deterministic chain from 'input to output', as it were?
> >> 
> >> Of course, I'm simplifying, because, in many cultures and types of music, the music makers and the music consumers are the same group, so it's not necessary to posit a 'one-way street'
> >> 
> >> regards
> >> ppl
> >> Dr Peter Lennox
> >> 
> >> School of Technology,
> >> Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology
> >> University of Derby, UK
> >> e: p.lennox@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >> t: 01332 593155
> >> ________________________________________
> >> From: AUDITORY - Research in Auditory Perception [AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Anders Genell [anders.genell@xxxxxx]
> >> Sent: 06 November 2012 08:48
> >> To: AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> Subject: Re: Music and mood
> >> 
> >> Dear Dr Tollin,
> >> 
> >> I would strongly recommend to read a paper by my former supervisor (and your namesake) Dr Daniel VÃstfjÃll and his colleague Dr Patrik Juslin on music and mood. They have done a very thorough review of the field and in addition post a number of hypotheses. You can find it here: http://nemcog.smusic.nyu.edu/docs/JuslinBBSTargetArticle.pdf
> >> 
> >> Best regards,
> >> Anders
> >> 
> >> 5 nov 2012 kl. 06:11 skrev "Tollin, Daniel" <Daniel.Tollin@xxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Daniel.Tollin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>>:
> >> 
> >> Hi all,
> >> 
> >> I have been tasked to give a brief introductory lecture on sound, music and its impact on mood and other neurological disorders as part of a larger symposium on neurological disorders.  I know enough about audition and music, but not much about the interplay of hearing and mood and the effect of sound on anxiety and/or neurological disorders.  Could anybody direct me to some reviews, demonstrations and/or PowerPoint slides that I might be able to use (of course, full acknowledgement would be given)?
> >> 
> >> Also I would like to highlight the possible role of hearing loss in neurological disorders such as Alzheimerâs, depression, anxiety, etc.  I understand that one of the best predictors of the onset and severity of some of these disorders is social isolationâand that one of the best predictors of social isolation is hearing loss or problems.  Are their studies that have linked hearing problems with these disorders?  Could somebody recommend some readings on this topic?
> >> 
> >> I know that the list has several musicologists and music therapists, etc., and hopefully somebody knowledgeable about the relationship between hearing and neurological disorders.
> >> 
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >> 
> >> Daniel J. Tollin, PhD
> >> Associate Professor
> >> 
> >> University of Colorado School of Medicine
> >> Department of Physiology and Biophysics/Mail Stop 8307
> >> Research Complex 1-N, Rm 7106
> >> 12800 East 19th Ave
> >> Aurora, CO 80045
> >> 
> >> _____________________________________________________________________
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