Abstract
The effect of music therapy on cognitive function has been widely reported; however, its clinical implications remain controversial. Performing therapeutic musical activities in groups using individualized instruments can help overcome the issues of engagement and compliance. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a cognitive intervention with musical stimuli using digital devices on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this prospective study, 24 patients with MCI (intervention group, 12; and control group, 12) were enrolled. We developed an electronic device with musical instruments and the Song-based Cognitive Stimulation Therapy protocol (SongCST). Patients in the intervention group underwent a 10-week cognitive intervention involving musical stimuli generated by our device. Effect of the intervention on cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination-Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean (MOCA-K), and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SOB). In the intervention group, MMSE-DS and MOCA-K scores improved significantly after the 10-week intervention. The changes in MOCA-K and CDR-SB scores were significantly different between the intervention and control groups. Our study showed that music therapy with digital devices has a positive effect on the executive function and overall disease severity in patients with MCI. Our study can facilitate individualization of music therapy using digital devices in groups.
Highlights
With an increase in the global elderly population, the incidence of dementia has increased.Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and it has been a topic of interest in the last few decades [1]
We developed a cognitive intervention involving musical stimuli based on therapeutic mechanisms of human rhythmicity, administered using digital devices [17]
Our study evaluated the effect of a cognitive intervention involving digital devices that generate musical stimuli with the Song-based Cognitive Stimulation Therapy protocol (SongCST) and 10STA_CMS protocols in a group music therapy program
Summary
With an increase in the global elderly population, the incidence of dementia has increased. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and it has been a topic of interest in the last few decades [1]. None of the drugs including acetylcholine esterase inhibitors (AchEi) and NMDA antagonists have been able to cure the condition. The pharmacological treatment can only delay the disease progression to the stage of disability for 2 years [2]. Because of repetitive failure of clinical trials with drugs targeting amyloid β and tau protein for dementia, non-pharmacological treatment has been emerging [3,4]. Numerous forms of non-pharmacological treatments to improve the cognitive function have been investigated, but their effects on dementia remain controversial [5]
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