Investigating the Enhancing Effect of Music on Autobiographical Memory in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

The enhancing effect of music on autobiographical memory recall in mild Alzheimer’s disease individuals (n = 10; Mini-Mental State Examination score >17/30) and healthy elderly matched individuals (n = 10; Mini-Mental State Examination score 25–30) was investigated. Using a repeated-measures design, each participant was seen on two occasions: once in music condition (Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’ movement from ‘The Four Seasons’) and once in silence condition, with order counterbalanced. Considerable improvement was found for Alzheimer individuals’ recall on the Autobiographical Memory Interview in the music condition, with an interaction for condition by group (p < 0.005). There were no differences in terms of overall arousal using galvanic skin response recordings or attentional errors during the Sustained Attention to Response Task. A significant reduction in state anxiety was found on the State Trait Anxiety Inventory in the music condition (p < 0.001), suggesting anxiety reduction as a potential mechanism underlying the enhancing effect of music on autobiographical memory recall.

Music Perception in Dementia

“…A substantial body of structural and functional neuroimaging work in the healthy brain and in patients with focal brain lesions has delineated distributed cortico-subcortical networks that analyze the dimensions of music [6,12,13]: these networks closely overlap the networks targeted in canonical dementia syndromes [14,15]. However, to date most studies of music in dementia have focused on the interaction of music and memory [16][17][18], preserved abilities in trained musicians developing dementia [16,19,20] and potential benefits of music more widely in dementia [21][22][23][24][25].…”

Receptive music interventions improve apathy and depression in elderly patients with dementia

“…One limitation of our study design was not to explore each cognitive function in relation to music intervention despite evidence that recognition of the emotions associated with music seems to be preserved in patients with AD. 65,66 Futhermore, music enhances encoding of verbal information in healthy elderly individuals and in patients with AD. 67 This may be explained by the fact that music alters the executive, associative, and auditory networks involved in brain plasticity and learning.…”

Song-Induced Autobiographical Memory of Patients With Early Alzheimer's Dementia

“…였다(Arroyo-Anlló, Díaz, & Gil, 2013;Choi, & Kwan, 2009;Eom, 2008;Foster & Valentine, 2001;Irish et al, 2006;Jung, 2009;Kim, 2008;Simmons-Stern, Budson, & Ally, 2010;Simmons-Stern et al, 2012) indicate that patient-selected songs, which have a personal meaning to an individual, could be effectively used for intervening with memory of this population, which would support music therapists to make better decision with regard to song selection. Further studies would be needed to deepen the understanding of autobiographical memory in older population with cognitive impairment and to propose more effective music therapy strategies for intervening with memory.…”