A new study from Western Sydney University’s MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development suggests individually tailored music playlists can be used to deliver better quality of life for people living with dementia.
Researchers selected 58 people with dementia from a pool of residential aged care and home care settings in NSW, playing each individual targeted music over a six-week period – and the results were dramatic.
Participants displayed visible improvements in interest, responsiveness and involvement over the 360 separate listening sessions.
Encouragingly, researchers also observed an improvement in mood in 313 listening sessions, compared to just 11 sessions which prompted a mood deterioration.
The findings have been published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, and the researchers hope to use this as the basis of a practical guide for carers to select the best music for their residents.
Music must be tailored to the individual
Sandra Garrido from WSU’s School of Psychology says the results are exciting.
“We didn’t focus on any particular genres because the foundation of our program is individualising the music based on whatever that person likes. We had everything from classical to metal,” she says.
“However, within the individual’s music preferences we tailor the music to whatever the individual’s particular challenges might be, e.g. if they are over-agitated, we won’t select something too stimulating, but if they are a bit withdrawn and lacking energy, we’ll choose something that is mildly stimulating.”
The paper does point out that music must be chosen with care, noting that in some instances choosing the wrong song could prompt negative consequences.
“The potential for adverse responses to music programs are particularly of concern in relation to programs that are not implemented by a trained music therapist, such as where nursing staff, recreational officers, or volunteers may develop programs of music use for residents in aged care homes,” the study’s authors say.
Still, the findings are encouraging, and if they will indeed improve the quality of life for people with dementia, that sounds like music to our ears.
