Cognitive Impairment and Music Therapy

Cognitive impairment has been found to be a key variable in the overall impact on physical and mental health in the elderly. Cognitive impairment has also been found to have a significant impact on mobility, depression and social isolation. This study will examine if patient engagement in music therapy (MT) has a greater effect on increased cognitive function; specifically improvement in short term memory than engagement in physical activity alone in residents residing in nursing homes. Music has been found to enhance autobiographic memories, emotion(s), cognitive stimulation and learning, physical improvement as well as increasing social interaction. Physical activity has also been shown to improve cognitive function. For the purpose of this study MT will consist of songs presented in a game format. Songs from the study participants generational time period will be randomly played. Study participants will be asked to name the song, the singer or discuss how the song makes them feel. Physical activity will consist of range of motion exercise that can be performed in a chair as well as in a standing position. MT and physical activity sessions will be conducted 3 times per week for 30 minutes per session. Twenty residents residing in a long-term care nursing facility with a score of 23 or less on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) will be divided into two groups. The MMSE will be administered to each group before and after each MT and physical activity session during the course of this month long study