Music a...

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a musical exercise programme on mood state and cognitive function in women with dementia. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Public Psychiatric Hospital Rekem, Belgium. Patients: Twenty-five patients with dementia. Interventions: Fifteen patients attended exercise training for three months, which consisted of daily physical exercises supported by music for 30 min/session. They were compared with a group of 10 control patients, who received an equal amount of attention through daily conversation. Main measures: The effect on cognition was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test 6 (ADS 6). Behaviour was evaluated with the abbreviated Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale (BOP scale). The assessments were made before, after six weeks of intervention and immediately after the three-month experimental period. Results: The exercise group showed a significant improvement in cognition. Thi