The use of music to aid memory of Alzheimer's patients

Author(s): Moore, Randall S.

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1991; 28: 101-110.

Abstract: 10 69-87 yr old patients whose diagnosis was probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and who resided in an intermediate care facility were assessed for recall of material, both sung and spoken, with which there was lifelong familiarity or that was being presented for the 1st time. For each S, there were 3 individual assessment sessions, averaging 20 min in length. All sessions had a similar format for familiar material, sung and spoken, interspersed with new material and a few orientation questions. Each session was videotaped. Evaluation of the videotapes consisted of both listening and watching to count the number of words each patient recalled correctly. Ss recalled the words to songs dramatically better than they recalled spoken words or spoken information. Although long-familiar songs were recalled with greater accuracy than a newly presented song, most Ss, whether or not they could recall the words to the new song, attempted to sing, hum, or keep time while the therapist sang. ABSTRACT 2: Ten patients whose diagnosis was probable Alzheimer's disease and who resided in an Intermediate Care facility in a state hospital were assessed for recall of material, both sung and spoken, with which there was lifelong familiarity. They were also assessed for recall of material, both sung and spoken which was being presented for the first time. For each participant, there were three individual assessment sessions, averaging twenty minutes in length. All sessions had a similar format of familiar material, sung and spoken, interspersed with new material and a few orientation questions. Evaluation of videotaped sessions consisted of both listening and watching to count the number of words each patient recalled correctly. Overall, patients recalled the words to songs dramatically better than they recalled spoken words.

Note: recall of familiar vs new sung vs spoken material; 69 87 yr olds with Alzheimer's disease; implications for music therapy

Keyword(s): Alzheimers disease; music ; memory ; recall learning; aged ; very old; music therapy; familiarity ; adulthood

Zurück | Weiter