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Local researchers assess benefits of music therapy
November 08, 2010
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is sponsoring a study at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to assess the benefits of music therapy in Alzheimer’s disease through functional and behavioural assessments; the study, which is being conducted by Dr. Kevin Kirkland, music therapist at UBC Hospital and Dr. Robin Hsiung, neurologist at UBC, is open to participants who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Who can participate?
- Participants must have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
- Participants should be able to have an MRI (exceptions may be made)
- Participants must have adequate hearing abilities to be able to participate in music therapy sessions
- Participants must have some mood, behavioural, or related symptoms as a result of Alzheimer’s disease (to be fully assessed during screening visit)
- Participants must have a study partner able to attend the screening visit and 3 study visits
- Participants should not have extensive musical training
- Participants must not be enrolled in a drug trial
- Recent studies suggest that music therapy is beneficial to people with Alzheimer Disease (AD), through improvement in mental health and decreased level of stress.
- Other studies indicate that people with AD are capable of retaining musical skills and memories much longer than language.
- Well controlled scientific studies are needed to be able to fully understand the health benefits of music therapy in AD. This research also aims to learn to what extent the way the brain processes music may be preserved in those who have AD, and whether music therapy has the potential to benefit the way the brain processes music and how this may relate to other things such as memory, cognition and language.
- By participating in this research, you will be helping us to further study the potential benefits of music therapy for patients with AD.
- Music therapy sessions will be one-on- one, with you and the music therapist.
- Music therapy involves a variety of musical activities that will engage you, such as:
- Reminiscence and autobiographical recall of songs
- Playing percussion instruments along to a theme
- Musical games
- Learning new songs, and more!
- The music therapist will follow a protocol that aims to stimulate neurocognitive abilities and affective responses through music-centered skills involving:
- Listening, Reading, Remembering
- Voicing, Learning
- Playing, Connecting
- Reciting, Moving.
- Those interested will be asked to attend a screening visit with their study partner to learn about their symptoms, hearing abilities, and ability to have an MRI scan.
- All eligible participants will receive individualized one-on-one music therapy sessions twice a week for 4 weeks at UBC
- Participants and their study partners will also be asked to attend three study visits over a period of 12 weeks to have functional MRI brain scans and cognitive testing done at UBC
- Participants will be asked to provide three saliva samples during the course of the study
- The study will not cost you any money. The cost of MRI scans and music therapy sessions will be covered by the study sponsors. You will be given a parking pass at each visit to UBC you attend, to cover the cost that would be associated with participating. You will also receive a universal $50 gift card for participating in the study.
