Page 16 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 14 Introduction
Dementia is a syndrome caused by a brain disease that can be chronic or pro-
gressive (World Health Organization, 2020). A large proportion (from 20% to
40%) of residents of nursing homes and patients in hospitals suffering from
dementia develop neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as violent behavior, agi-
tation, wandering, socially inappropriate behavior, eating disorders, anxiety,
depression, apathy, insomnia, delusions, misidentification, and hallucinations
(Aarsland, 2020).
Demographic aging is a global process resulting from improved health-
care over the last century. There are more than 10 million new cases of demen-
tia worldwide each year, i.e. one new case every 3.2 seconds (Alzheimer’s dis-
ease international, 2020; Alzheimer’s Association, 2021).
Dementia is also a major economic burden because treatment costs are
high. Treatment includes costs attributable to informal care (unpaid care for
family and others), direct costs of social care (provided by professionals), and
direct costs of healthcare (cost of treating dementia and other conditions in
primary and secondary care) (Castro et al., 2010; Gustavsson et al., 2010).
The treatment of patients with dementia is holistic. Both pharmacological
and non-pharmacological treatments are important. However, there is now a
wide range of non-pharmacological strategies to treat neuropsychiatric symp-
toms. Among these strategies, music therapy is worth mentioning. According
to the World Federation for Music Therapy, music therapy is “the use of mu-
sic and/or musical elements (sound, rhythm, melody, and harmony) by a qual-
ified music therapist, with a client or group, in a process designed to facilitate
and promote communication, relationships, learning, mobilization, expres-
sion, organization, and other relevant therapeutic objectives to meet physical
emotional, mental, social and cognitive needs”. Some studies indicated a ben-
eficial effect on reducing the anxiety of patients with dementia (Svansdottir
and Snaedal, 2006, Goddaer and Abraham, 1994; Moroi et al., 2008; Nomi et
al., 2005; Tabloski et al., 1995; Tsuchiya, 2003) and a few studies also indicated
moderate increase a cognitive function (Miura et al., 2005). On the other hand,
some studies reported that music therapy did not have a significant effect on
agitated behaviors in those with dementia (Sung et al., 2012).
Methods
A literature search was performed in databases.
Search strategy and selection criteria
A literature search was conducted in following databases: MEDLINE, Willey
Online Library, CINHAL and ScienceDirect. The search keywords included
dementia, music therapy, neuropsychiatric symptoms, anxiety, depression. Da-
tabases were searched using the Boolean operators to find the results (dementia
AND music therapy AND neuropsychiatric symptoms OR anxiety OR depres-
Dementia is a syndrome caused by a brain disease that can be chronic or pro-
gressive (World Health Organization, 2020). A large proportion (from 20% to
40%) of residents of nursing homes and patients in hospitals suffering from
dementia develop neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as violent behavior, agi-
tation, wandering, socially inappropriate behavior, eating disorders, anxiety,
depression, apathy, insomnia, delusions, misidentification, and hallucinations
(Aarsland, 2020).
Demographic aging is a global process resulting from improved health-
care over the last century. There are more than 10 million new cases of demen-
tia worldwide each year, i.e. one new case every 3.2 seconds (Alzheimer’s dis-
ease international, 2020; Alzheimer’s Association, 2021).
Dementia is also a major economic burden because treatment costs are
high. Treatment includes costs attributable to informal care (unpaid care for
family and others), direct costs of social care (provided by professionals), and
direct costs of healthcare (cost of treating dementia and other conditions in
primary and secondary care) (Castro et al., 2010; Gustavsson et al., 2010).
The treatment of patients with dementia is holistic. Both pharmacological
and non-pharmacological treatments are important. However, there is now a
wide range of non-pharmacological strategies to treat neuropsychiatric symp-
toms. Among these strategies, music therapy is worth mentioning. According
to the World Federation for Music Therapy, music therapy is “the use of mu-
sic and/or musical elements (sound, rhythm, melody, and harmony) by a qual-
ified music therapist, with a client or group, in a process designed to facilitate
and promote communication, relationships, learning, mobilization, expres-
sion, organization, and other relevant therapeutic objectives to meet physical
emotional, mental, social and cognitive needs”. Some studies indicated a ben-
eficial effect on reducing the anxiety of patients with dementia (Svansdottir
and Snaedal, 2006, Goddaer and Abraham, 1994; Moroi et al., 2008; Nomi et
al., 2005; Tabloski et al., 1995; Tsuchiya, 2003) and a few studies also indicated
moderate increase a cognitive function (Miura et al., 2005). On the other hand,
some studies reported that music therapy did not have a significant effect on
agitated behaviors in those with dementia (Sung et al., 2012).
Methods
A literature search was performed in databases.
Search strategy and selection criteria
A literature search was conducted in following databases: MEDLINE, Willey
Online Library, CINHAL and ScienceDirect. The search keywords included
dementia, music therapy, neuropsychiatric symptoms, anxiety, depression. Da-
tabases were searched using the Boolean operators to find the results (dementia
AND music therapy AND neuropsychiatric symptoms OR anxiety OR depres-
