The effect of music on psychological and behavioral symptoms in institutionalized elderly with Alzheimer's Disease

• Grant number: 17/01094-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: October 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Aline Cristina Martins Gratao
• Grantee: Larissa Corrêa
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dementias, characterized by loss of cognitive and emotional abilities, are considered a Public Health problem that interferes with the daily life of the elderly, whose main cause is Alzheimer's disease (AD). A disease that in its progress leads to loss of independence and autonomy of the affected, resulting in the need for uninterrupted care, such as those offered in Long-Term Care Facilities for the Elderly (ILPIs). In these environments, it is increasingly important to train professionals with a not only momentary approach, but to promote a continuous process of comprehensive and qualified health care for the elderly. Thus, this research aims to contribute to research on the effects of music on psychological and behavioral symptoms (SPCD) of elderly people with institutionalized AD, to examine the relationship between the degree of dementia of the elderly and the proposed intervention and to offer the professionals involved with this population A tool that can contribute to the improvement of communication and interaction with these elderly people. This is a quasi-experimental study, comparing the SPCD measurements presented by the elderly and physiological parameters (heart rate and variability, and blood pressure) before and at the end of the intervention. In addition, an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was used to evaluate the change in facial expression and the realization of perceived bodily movements during the musical sessions in elderly people living in a Long-Term Elderly Institution. 8 sessions will be planned with songs related to each patient's outstanding past, selected through the indication of a relative closer to the elderly in question, based on melodies, sounds and movements, bringing to the present positive memories in order to achieve beneficial effect in the cognitive and interactional state. It is expected that after music sessions representative of the life of the elderly, they result in effects such as increased well-being of Alzheimer's patients, increased interaction among them, decreased feeling of isolation, levels of agitation, anxiety and aggressiveness. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LARISSA CORRÊA; ANA JULIA DE SOUZA CAPARROL; GABRIELA MARTINS; SOFIA CRISTINA IOST PAVARINI; ALINE CRISTINA MARTINS GRATÃO. Efeitos da música nas expressões corporais e faciais e nos sintomas psicológicos e comportamentais de idosos. CADERNOS BRASILEIROS DE TERAPIA OCUPACIONAL-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, v. 28, n. 2, p. 539-553, 2020-06-10. (17/01094-0)