Effects of Group Music Therapy Interventions on Alzheimer's Disease Patients: a Three-arm Randomized Controlled Blind Study.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine what type of music therapy (active versus passive) approach has higher effects on clinical symptoms in advanced Alzheimer's disease patients

Detailed Description
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Ninety AD patients from six nursing homes participated in the study. Nursing homes were randomly and blindly assigned to receive for three months either active music intervention, passive music listening or usual care. Effects on cognition, behaviour, daily living activities and motor function were assessed after the intervention.

Official Title
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Effects of Group Music Therapy Interventions on Alzheimer's Disease Patients: a Three-arm Randomized Controlled Blind Study.

Conditions
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Alzheimer's Disease

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Actice music therapy
* Other: Watching nature videos
* Other: Passive music therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Nursing-home dwelling Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease Mild or moderate stage (Clinical Classification of the Dementia) Exclusion Criteria: Aphasia Hearing impairment that may affect participation in the activities.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: active music therapy<br>Each session consisted of: song of welcome (patients had to greet and introduce themselves), rhythmic exercise (three songs were used; therapist and patients kept rhythm by clapping their hands), dance exercises (three songs were used; patients should make free body movements in response to music), game of recognition of songs and interpreters (four songs were used) and song of goodbye. | Other: Actice music therapy<br>* active music therapy sessions for three months<br>|
| Experimental: passive music therapy<br>The therapist and the patients were seat listening to the music recorded in a CD. The therapist told patients which the name and the interpreter of each song of the list. | Other: Passive music therapy<br>* passive music therapy for three months<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: control<br>Patients were watching nature videos for the same duration than the interventions. A therapist was with them facilitating the activity. | Other: Watching nature videos<br>* nature videos sessions for three months<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mini Examination of the Mental State | Cognitive status. Range 0-30. Higher scores indicate better cognition | 0-3 months | 
| Neuropsychiatric Inventory | Behavioural disorders. Range 0-144. Higher scores indicate greater behavioural problems | 0-3 months | 
| Geriatric depression scale | Mood status. Range 0-15. Higher scores indicate worse mood status | 0-3 months | 
| Barthel index | Functional status. Range 0-100.Higher scores indicate worse functional status | 0-3 months | 
| Tinneti scale.Higher scores indicate better motor function | Motor function | 0-3 months. Range 0-28 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Alzheimer's disease, cognition., behaviour, function, motor function, active music therapy, passive music therapy