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Choir singing reduces depressive symptoms in patients with dementia
Music interventions are promising and possibly cost-effective non-pharmacological approaches for people with dementia.
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Dementia and depression are very common comorbid conditions among elders living in care homes. Both conditions are associated with distress of the residents and rising societal costs. Care homes need effective, scalable, and feasible interventions. Interventions involving music have shown promising effects, but the current evidence is inconclusive. They are believed to reduce symptoms of depression and agitation as well as improving wellbeing and the quality of life. Music-related activities can be beneficial even for people in more advanced stages of dementia, probably due to preservation of brain areas involved in music memory.
The study conducted by Baker et al. aimed to research the impact of two different music interventions on the depressive symptoms in individuals with dementia living in residential aged care. First intervention was the group music therapy (GMT), and second, recreational choir singing (RCS). Both are among the most widely used and studied active music interventions for people with dementia. They involve a combination of biological, psychological, and social mechanisms associated with improved mood and depressive symptoms. GMT includes a broader range of music therapy methods, while RCS is primarily focused on singing in larger groups and is more scalable.
MIDDEL is a cluster-randomized controlled trial that took place in residential aged care homes in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and is also being conducted in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. In the study 2 × 2 factorial cluster-randomized controlled trial was implemented to indicate whether GMT is more effective than no GMT with standard care, or RCS is more effective than no RCS with standard care, for reducing depressive symptoms in people with dementia and mild to severe depressive symptoms living in residential aged care.
The protocolized interventions were delivered by music therapists (GMT) and community musicians (RCS). The study screened 318 residents. Most residents were female (69%) and had a mean age of 86.5 years. On average, residents attended 22.2 and 20 GMT and RCS sessions, respectively, where people with mild dementia attended fewer sessions than individuals with moderate or severe dementia.
The statistical analysis of effects showed that RCS was superior to no RCS at all timepoints. GMT was not significantly better to no GMT, and there was no interaction effect between GMT and RCS. A comparison of the four groups illustrated that RCS alone had the best outcomes and standard care had the worst results throughout the follow-up period. For the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms, RCS tended to be superior to no RCS at all time points, reaching statistical significance at months 3 and 12; there were no effects of GMT versus no GMT.
The results support the implementation of RCS as a clinically relevant therapeutic intervention in reducing depressive symptoms for people with dementia. Growing evidence suggests that music interventions are promising and possibly cost-effective non-pharmacological approaches for people with dementia.
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Dementia and depression are very common comorbid conditions among elders living in care homes. Both conditions are associated with distress of the residents and rising societal costs. Care homes need effective, scalable, and feasible interventions. Interventions involving music have shown promising effects, but the current evidence is inconclusive. They are believed to reduce symptoms of depression and agitation as well as improving wellbeing and the quality of life. Music-related activities can be beneficial even for people in more advanced stages of dementia, probably due to preservation of brain areas involved in music memory.
The study conducted by Baker et al. aimed to research the impact of two different music interventions on the depressive symptoms in individuals with dementia living in residential aged care. First intervention was the group music therapy (GMT), and second, recreational choir singing (RCS). Both are among the most widely used and studied active music interventions for people with dementia. They involve a combination of biological, psychological, and social mechanisms associated with improved mood and depressive symptoms. GMT includes a broader range of music therapy methods, while RCS is primarily focused on singing in larger groups and is more scalable.
MIDDEL is a cluster-randomized controlled trial that took place in residential aged care homes in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and is also being conducted in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. In the study 2 × 2 factorial cluster-randomized controlled trial was implemented to indicate whether GMT is more effective than no GMT with standard care, or RCS is more effective than no RCS with standard care, for reducing depressive symptoms in people with dementia and mild to severe depressive symptoms living in residential aged care.
The protocolized interventions were delivered by music therapists (GMT) and community musicians (RCS). The study screened 318 residents. Most residents were female (69%) and had a mean age of 86.5 years. On average, residents attended 22.2 and 20 GMT and RCS sessions, respectively, where people with mild dementia attended fewer sessions than individuals with moderate or severe dementia.
The statistical analysis of effects showed that RCS was superior to no RCS at all timepoints. GMT was not significantly better to no GMT, and there was no interaction effect between GMT and RCS. A comparison of the four groups illustrated that RCS alone had the best outcomes and standard care had the worst results throughout the follow-up period. For the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms, RCS tended to be superior to no RCS at all time points, reaching statistical significance at months 3 and 12; there were no effects of GMT versus no GMT.
The results support the implementation of RCS as a clinically relevant therapeutic intervention in reducing depressive symptoms for people with dementia. Growing evidence suggests that music interventions are promising and possibly cost-effective non-pharmacological approaches for people with dementia.
Source: link
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Dr. Ana Baroni MD. Ph.D.
Scientific & Medical Advisor
Quality Garant
Ana has over 20 years of consultancy experience in longevity, regenerative and precision medicine. She has a multifaceted understanding of genomics, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, nutrition, aging markers, hormones and physical training. This background allows her to bridge the gap between longevity basic sciences and evidence-based real interventions, putting them into the clinic, to enhance the healthy aging of people. She is co-founder of Origen.life, and Longevityzone. Board member at Breath of Health, BioOx and American Board of Clinical Nutrition. She is Director of International Medical Education of the American College of Integrative Medicine, Professor in IL3 Master of Longevity at Barcelona University and Professor of Nutrigenomics in Nutrition Grade in UNIR University.
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