Use of music therapy as a treatment for Alzheimer
Introduction
Why are cradle songs known for calming children? Can music be used to mold the brain? Does it influence our humor? Music has been an indispensable part of each culture throughout history. When you think of Mexico, China, Sweden, anywhere in the world, there is a type of music that appears in our heads. It can be said that "there is no other human cultural activity that is as penetrating as music, which arrives, molds, and often controls many of human behaviors" (Davis et al cited in De la Rubia et al, 2014, p.133). Being something so important in our lives, it is no surprise that, thanks to the studies on its positive impacts, we know that when listening to it, brain parts are stimulated causing serotonin to be segregated: the hormone of good humor and happiness (Capdevila, 2019 ). But in addition to making us feel good, music has the potential to cure certain diseases when used as an alternative medicine. In this essay, we will talk about music as a treatment for the type of dementia called Alzheimer’s. First we will explain what this pathology consists of, then we will talk about music therapy, and, finally, the relationship between these two and how we can use music as a treatment for this type of dementia will be discussed. All this with the aim of trying with previous studies that music therapy is a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Developing
Dementia is a pathology that appears due to aging, generating problems for both the person who suffers from it and its caregiver (of the blonde et al, 2014, p.132). There are many types of dementia, but according to the World Health Organization (2019), Alzheimer’s is the most common worldwide, monopolizing between 60% and 70% of cases. We can define Alzheimer’s disease as
Primary degenerative dementia of cortical predominance and insidious beginning from fifty years, progressive and irreversible, characterized by loss of various intellectual and cognitive abilities, which leads to altered behavior, with loss of personal care habits, deterioration of the relationship with people and environment, and various neurological and physical disorders. (Sarasa cited in De la Rubia et al, 2014, P.132)
This pathology can be divided into three stages: as a main sign there is a loss of long and short term memory, followed by loss of autonomy, and finally the ability to perform daily activities is lost (tárraga cited in De la Rubia et al, 2014, p.132). There is currently no treatment that heals this disease, so it is important to use complementary and alternative therapies to achieve the improvement of the patient (cited in De la Rubia et al, 2014, P.132).
One of the treatments that are currently being investigated is music therapy, which, according to the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) cited in Soria-Urios et al in its article brain evidence of musical entertainment (2011):
Musicotherapy consists in the use of music and/or its musical elements (sound, rhythm, melody, harmony) by a music therapist, with a patient or group, in the process designed to facilitate and promote communication, learning, Mobilization, expression, organization or other relevant therapeutic objectives, in order to achieve changes and meet physical, emotional, mental, social and cognitive needs. Musicotherapy seeks to discover potential and restore functions of the individual so that it reaches a better intra and interpersonal organization and, consequently, a better quality of life through prevention and rehabilitation in a treatment. (p.739)
According to this definition, music therapy can improve physical and psychological health, which are factors affected by Alzheimer’s. This is possible due to 5 factors: music attracts our attention more effectively than other sensory stimuli, it is capable of modulating emotions, in its processing different cognitive functions are involved, it can evoke movement patterns even unconsciously, and finally, and finally, It implies communication (Hillecke cited in Soria-Urios et al, 2011, p.739). Knowing the basis of the functioning of music therapy, we can talk about the benefits of this. According to Koelsch cited in Soria-Uios et al, (2011, p.740), there are three main sectors where the effect of music therapy can be noticed: at the emotional level, there is the possibility that music therapy activates the hippocampus preventing the death of hypocypic neurons and the blockade of hypocampic neurogenesis, which is present in variations such as depression and posttraumatic stress. There is also improvement in the area of action-perception since, when activating not only auditory areas, but also motor areas, the learning of actions is facilitated. Finally, in the area of social cognition because the proof is being sought that, knowing the author of a certain musical piece and the purpose of this, our perception of his work is influenced. Although there is a lack of research that supports this last point, it represents a factor with the potential to be part of the treatment of music therapy. As we can see, there is a wide range of justifications for the use of music as a therapeutic method.
Now, why are these benefits effective for patients with Alzheimer’s? The various studies about this topic allow us.740). This is possible due to "the activation of associative memories and the analysis of emotional expression, linked to the tonal and temporal perception of the musical processing module", which are the main factors committed to the relaxing effect of music, since This triggers neuroprotective mechanisms by promoting neurorofine expression (Orjuela, 2011). Also, music therapy improves memory, emotional expressions and movement. But for this to be possible, it is important that the material we use is significant for the person, as a genre of music that is like him, for example (Soria-Urios et al, 2011, p.740). We also know that other symptoms of Alzheimer.
conclusion
As mentioned above, various studies have proven the efficiency of music therapy in patients with Alzheimer’s. Next, we will share the results of some of these. The results of the study of Gómez, M and Gómez, J (2017), showed the following results:
A significant improvement of memory, orientation, depression and anxiety (HAD scale) was observed in mild and moderate patients; of anxiety (NPI scale) in minor patients; of delusions, hallucinations, agitation, irritability and language disorders in the group with moderate dementia. The effect on cognitive measures is already appreciable at the 4 music therapy sessions.
In this conclusion, the improvement can be observed in areas mentioned above in this essay (memory, depression and anxiety), in addition to the surprising fact that in just 4 weeks results can be observed.
The following study, done by De la Rubia et al (2014), also results in the decrease in depression and anxiety in patients:
The sample is made up of 25 individuals whose average age is 77.52 years, with a standard deviation of ± 7.37 years. Of these are men, which corresponds to 28% and 18 are women who represent 72%. When evaluating the HADS scale around anxiety before music therapy, we obtained that the average score was 19.83 with a standard deviation of ± 2.54. While after music therapy we got a 25.23 With a standard deviation of ± 3.59. On the other hand, on the depression scale the average value prior to music therapy was 20.50 with a standard deviation of ± 4.77, while after music therapy increased to 24.95 with a standard deviation of ± 3.64. We must remember that, at a higher score, less is the degree of anxiety and depression. (p.137)
Finally, we will show the conclusions of the following research done by Garcia, (2013):
It is very important to use music that are significant for the patient. It is of no use if you work with a song completely alien to the life, age, social and cultural environment of the patient, no significant results will be obtained. Therefore, it is vital to perform a musical anamnesis prior to any treatment, whether individual or collective in view of programming sessions and activities and selecting the most appropriate music to achieve the objectives that are pursued […]. As seen throughout work, Alzheimer. We must assess the situation in which each one is to adopt a correct attitude in each situation, in addition to taking it into consideration to organize and program each intervention session. (p.3. 4)
In the previous conclusions the fact already mentioned in this essay that the music used in the therapy has to be significant for the patient or if not, does not yield results is repeated, does not yield results. The important point that each Alzheimer’s case is different is also different. For this reason, music therapy is a complicated treatment, because you cannot use the same method for all.
In conclusion, there are many studies to know the benefits of music therapy in people in general, but research is needed specifically on Alzheimer’s disease. Not having a definitive cure for this type of dementia, the scientific community must use its resources to explore this treatment that seems to be very promising. Also, provide greater publicity among the affected community so that it is not discredited because it is an alternative medicine type. Music has as an advantage that it is something available to everyone, let’s use it to mold our brain and fight the most common type of dementia: Alzheimer’s.
Bibliography
- Gómez Gallego, M. & Gómez García, J. (2017). Music therapy in Alzheimer’s disease: cognitive, psychological and behavioral effects. Neurology, 32 (5), 300–308. https: // doi.org/10.1016/J.NRL.2015.12.003
- Zárate D, P., & Díaz T, V. (2001). Music therapy applications in medicine. Chilean Medical Magazine, 129 (2). https: // doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872001000200015
- Capdevila, n. (September 27, 2019). Music therapy, what are its benefits? [Blog input]. Recovered from https: // better consalud.com/la-musicotherapy-how-are-your-benefits/
- Soria-Urios G., Duke p. & García-Moreno J. (2011). Music and brain (II): brain evidence of musical training. Rev neurol. Recovered from http: // www.academy.EDU/DOWNLOAD/39790573/MUSIC_AND_BRAIN_II_EVIDENCE_OF_MUSICAL20151107-9081-1O6VN24.PDF
- Garcia, s. (2013). Musicotherapy in the treatment of Alzheimer’s symptoms. (Grade thesis, Valladolid University). Recovered from http: // uvadoc.grape.es/handle/10324/3340
- [WHO] (September 19, 2019). Dementia. Recovered from https: // www.quien.INT/ES/NEWS-OOM/FACT-SHEETS/DETAIL/DEMINIA
- Of the blonde, J., Sancho, p. & Cabañés, C. (2014). Physiological impact of music therapy on depression, anxiety, and well -being of the patient with alzheimer’s dementia. Assessment of the use of questionnaires to quantify it. European Journal of Investigation in Health, 4 (2), [P.131-P.140]. DOI: 10.1989/EJIHPE.V4I2.60
- Rojas, j. (2011). Anxiolytic effect of music therapy: neurobiological and cognitive aspects of musical processing. Colombian Magazine of Psychiatry, 40 (4), [P.748 – P.759]. DOI: https: // doi.org/10.1016/S0034-7450 (14) 60162-1
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